Flag Burning, Voter Suppression Headline GA Governor's Race

ATLANTA, GA -- It's America's most watched governor's race, as Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams are running for Georgia's top statewide office. Abrams is seeking to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history, while Kemp is aiming to maintain the GOP's stronghold on the office that it's enjoyed since 2002. National Democrats also hope that Georgia will become a swing state, as the nation's midterm elections are widely being seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's controversial White House administration.

From now until Election Day, your local Patch will be offering the most comprehensive and thorough election coverage of the governor's race and all of the other local races, issues and referendums that matter to you.

Here's a look at last week's developments in Georgia's nationally watched races:

Runoff Appearing More Likely In GA Governor's Race

A new NBC News/Marist poll shows the nation's most watched governor's race is essentially tied, with neither Brian Kemp or Stacey Abrams polling over 50 percent. In a head-to-head contest among registered voters in Georgia, both Abrams and Kemp receive 47 percent support. Among likely voters, Kemp gets 49 percent to Abrams' 47 percent, but that result is within the poll's margin of error. When libertarian Ted Metz is included on the ballot, Kemp's lead shrinks to 1 point among likely voters. Read more here.

Kemp, Abrams Debate In Nation's Most Watched Governor's Race

Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp met for their first televised statewide debate Tuesday night after both campaigns experienced some of their most eventful 24 hours before their 7 pm meeting. Kemp and Abrams are both seeking to become governor in what is arguably the nation's most watched gubernatorial campaigns. Abrams is hoping to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history, while Kemp is aiming to maintain GOP control of the governorship his party has enjoyed since 2002, as well as continue the party's dominance of every statewide elected office and a majority GOP congressional delegation. Read more here.

Two Weeks From Election, Abrams Under Fire For Flag Burning

Two weeks from Election Day, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is under fire for an incident in 1992 in which she burned a Georgia state flag. Abrams, seeking to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history, burned the flag as a symbol of her opposition to Confederate symbolism. The demonstration took place on the steps of the Georgia state capitol while the future lawmaker was still at Spelman College. Read more here.

Kemp: Abrams' Voter Turnout Effort Worrisome "If Everybody Votes"

On the eve of his first televised debate in Georgia's nationally watched governor's race, Brian Kemp is facing new questions about alleged voter suppression efforts. In a recently leaked audio recording made available to Rolling Stone, Kemp is heard expressing concerns over his opponent's voter turnout operation. Kemp was appearing at a ticketed campaign event last week at Buckhead's Blind Pig Parlour Bar, and said Democrat Stacey Abrams' absentee ballot turnout operation "continues to concern us, especially if everybody uses and exercises their right to vote -- which they absolutely can -- and mail those ballots in." In the recording, Kemp said his campaign needs "heavy turnout to offset that." Read more here.

New Poll Shows Handel Leading McBath In Metro ATL 6th District

A bipartisan joint poll conducted last week shows U.S. Rep. Karen Handel leading in her reelection bid against Democrat Lucy McBath. The poll was conducted by Bold Blue Campaigns, a Democratic polling company, and JMC Analytics and Polling, a Republican polling firm, and shows Handel leading McBath by a 49-percent to 45-percent margin, with 6 percent undecided. The poll was based upon 500 likely voters with a 4.5% margin of error. Read more here.

Two Weeks & Counting: Georgians Vote In Governor Race, Midterms

eorgia's nationally watched elections are two weeks away as gubernatorial hopefuls Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams participate in their first televised debate Tuesday night. Every poll taken within the last month show the race a virtual tie, as Abrams seeks to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history. Kemp is seeking to help the GOP maintain control of the governor's office the party has enjoyed since 2002 that spearheaded a Republican dominance of every elected statewide office and a majority GOP congressional delegation. Read more here.

Trump: Kemp Will Make A 'Great Governor,' Abrams Is 'Unqualified'

President Donald Trump urged Georgians over the weekend to vote early for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Brian Kemp in America's most watched governor's race. Trump has already endorsed Kemp in the race, but again touted his support for Georgia's current secretary of state in his campaign against Democrat Stacey Abrams, who is seeking to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history. Read more here.

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