Kemp Sworn In For 2nd Term As Georgia Governor, Notes Budget Plans

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has been inaugurated as leader of the Peach State for a second term.

The 83rd governor, a Republican from Athens, was inaugurated Thursday at Georgia State University with Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and their three daughters in attendance, along with Georgia's top officials.

Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carla Wong McMillian administered the oath of office to Kemp, with his right hand raised and his left hand sitting on a Bible held by his wife.

Kemp was re-elected after defeating Democrat Stacey Abrams for a second time and Libertarian Shane Hazel in the 2022 general election. Kemp had 53.41% of the votes to Abrams' 45.88% and Hazel's 0.71%.

"Through the next four years, we are going to be focused on growing Georgia, not growing government," Kemp said in his inauguration speech.

Kemp was first inaugurated to office in 2019 with his family by his side and was Georgia's governor through a global pandemic and rising tensions between law enforcement and protesters.

"None of us could imagine the immense challenges our state would face in the years to come," he said of his 2019 inauguration. " ... I belive now than ever Georgia's best days are ahead of us."

Kemp will release his 2023-24 fiscal year budget recommendations Friday but noted some of the components Thursday.

He is recommending a $2,000 pay raise for all state employees to include law enforcement and educators.

The budget also includes more than $150 million in one-time grants for local school districts to address school security and learning loss. To combat the state's teacher shortage, Kemp said the funding will assist thousands of paraprofessionals in becoming certified teachers.

He plans to return $1 billion of income tax monies to taxpayers in the form of refunds this year, he said.

Additionally, $1.1 billion in one-time homeowner property tax relief grants will be allocated to curb rising property tax bills, he said.

"I'm putting you and your families first because that's your money, not the government's," Kemp said.

Kemp administered the oath of office for newly elected Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, R-Jackson, who defeated opponents Charlie Bailey and Ryan Graham in the general election.

In his speech, reflecting on his life in Jackson, Jones said small town values can benefit Georgia.

"This is our moment," he said. "This is our time."

Kemp also administered the oath to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John F. King, State School Superintendent Richard Woods and Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson.

Kemp said King is Georgia's first Latino constitutional officer.