Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has solid lead over Democrat Stacey Abrams in new poll

ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) - A new poll released Tuesday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows GOP incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp holding a solid lead in his bid for reelection over Democrat Stacey Abrams.

The poll, which also shows leads for Republicans in the race for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, paints a different picture in Georgia’s U.S. senate race, a contest that could determine the balance of power in the world’s greatest deliberative body.

The poll was conducted Sept. 5-16 and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. It was conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Policy and International Affairs.

Kemp is leading Abrams 50% to 42%, while GOP challenger Herschel Walker leads U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock 46% to 44%, within the poll’s margin of error.

Since 2018, data shows 57 percent of new registered voters are under the age of 40. While young voters typically lean toward Democrats, their turnout trails older voters.

“I’m ready for my voice to be heard. I’m ready to have my power and my say so, I’m ready,” newly registered voter Nigel Middlebrooks said.

Mark Rountree is a pollster and political analyst who said it’s not only young voters that could shape the outcome of the election. There has also been an increase in Hispanic and Asian voters during the past four years.

“This state is continuing to get more diverse,” Rountree said.

“Four years ago, we had virtually a 50/50 election. This time Governor Kemp seems to be edging ahead and a lot of it may have to do with the sheer number of voters that are new to the state of Georgia,” Rountree said.

He said with an influx of new voters, candidates with name recognition will benefit.

“They’re relatively new learning about Governor Kemp, they’re absolutely new learning about Stacey Abrams as a candidate and some of that is bearing out in the new polls,” Rountree said.

Full coverage of Georgia’s 2022 midterm elections.

State Sen. Burt Jones is leading in the race for lieutenant governor, 43% to Democrat Charlie Bailey’s 33%. GOP Attorney General Chris Carr is leading state Sen. Jen Jordan by a margin of 45% to 35%.

Also, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, has a large lead over Democratic challenger Bee Nguyen, 50% to 31%.

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