Georgia's Brian Kemp would tie for the nation's top-paid governor under a pay-raise proposal

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs HB 67, the supplemental budget bill for fiscal year 2025 which boosts spending for Hurricane Helene relief, at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Georgia’s Brian Kemp could tie New York’s Kathy Hochul for the highest-paid state governor under a proposal made Thursday.

State senators agreed to amend House Bill 86 to give big pay raises to most of Georgia’s statewide elected officials, who are all Republicans. The bill would also raise pay for judges on the state Supreme Court and other statewide courts.

The measure would raise Kemp’s pay from the $182,000 he made in the budget year that ended June 30 to $250,000. According to figures compiled by New York state government, that would tie Hochul, a Democrat for the most any governor is paid. Maine Gov. Janet Mills makes the least, at $70,000 a year, according to the figures.