Brian Kemp: Why is Georgia race so important and who is Trump’s choice for governor?

He proudly describes himself as a ‘politically incorrect conservative’

Kemp has promised to put ‘Georgia First’ (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Brian Kemp is the Republican candidate for governor of Georgia – and has the backing of Donald Trump.

What does the 55-year-old politician and businessman stand for, and who is his Democrat rival bidding to make history in November?

Why is Georgia so important in 2018?

If Democrat Stacey Abrams wins she would be the first female African-American governor in US history. However, the state holds particular political significance not just because of Ms Abrams’ campaign but because it has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. Mr Trump and his party have suffered what critics have said are humiliating defeats after he endorsed candidates such as Roy Moore in Alabama, the nominee for the US Senate seat left vacant by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Mr Moore was excoriated publicly for his alleged sexual assault of several women when he was in his thirties and they were just teenagers, one as young as 14.

Who is the man Republicans have chosen to run against Ms Abrams?

Mr Kemp is a two-time secretary of state for Georgia, which Mr Trump won in 2016.

The 55-year-old husband and father of three daughters is no stranger to state politics. He also served as a state senator from 2003 to 2007, representing his hometown of Athens, Georgia.

What does he stand for?

Mr Kemp’s gubernatorial campaign includes a four-point plan to put “Georgia First”.

As a small business owner, he has promised to push for legislation which favours the private sector.

He has also been endorsed by the Family Research Council, which bills itself as a Christian conservative lobbying organisation pushing for a pro-life agenda.

However, it has also been designated a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Centre, a legal advocacy organisation which specialises in the protection of civil rights, for its consistent “intention ... to denigrate LGBT people”.

He is also endorsed by GeorgiaCarry.org, a state-based group which advocates for the right to carry firearms.

He infamously appeared in a campaign commercial wielding a shotgun pointed at a young man interested in dating one of his daughters.

His campaign has left no room to wonder what his agenda in office will be. In one of his campaign’s commercials he said he wanted to “round up criminal illegals and take them home” himself.

In the same advert he said: “If you want a politically incorrect conservative... that’s me.”

Does he have a stance on Russian interference in the 2016 election?

Given Mr Trump’s endorsement and apparent influence on Mr Kemp’s campaign, it is no surprise the Republican candidate said he does not believe the US intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the election.

What has he said about his opponent?

His campaign persona can perhaps be summed up perfectly by his victory speech during which he said: “This is the state of Georgia: We are a red state.”

He has positioned himself as the one to uphold Georgians’ values and painted Ms Abrams as a radical leftist threat to the very culture of the state.

In a telling move, he did not choose the state capital of Atlanta to celebrate his victory where much of Ms Abrams’ base is located. Instead he chose Athens, Georgia, his hometown.