GOP Candidates For Georgia Governor Ready For Runoff

Republicans Casey Cagle, left, and Brian Kemp largely skipped celebrations Tuesday and pivoted directly to talk of the July 24 runoff that will decide who faces Democrat Stacey Abrams in November in the Georgia governor’s race.

Al Such/WABE and John Amis/Associated Press

Stacey Abrams got immediate accolades and attention nationally as Georgia Democrats nominated her for the state’s top job, but any focus on her chances of becoming the nation’s first black female governor first has to wait for her Republican opponent who won’t be settled for another two months.

With votes still being tallied, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp largely skipped the celebrations and pivoted directly to talk of a runoff contest that will decide who faces Abrams in November.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told supporters Tuesday: "It's great to come in first place. We've got a lot more to be done." (Al Such/WABE)
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told supporters Tuesday: “It’s great to come in first place. We’ve got a lot more to be done.” (Al Such/WABE)

At his Athens watch party, Kemp told supporters, “I want to thank you all, our thousands of supporters around the state, for helping us punch our ticket to the runoff.”