Stacey Abrams Says Brian Kemp Is 'Most Dangerous Thing Facing Georgia'

Stacey Abrams, Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, said the greatest danger facing the state is four more years under Republican Governor Brian Kemp, slamming his handling of the economy, abortion and other issues.

Abrams made the remarks Monday night at the gubernatorial debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club in response to a question about what she considered to be the state's "biggest challenge." The Democrat's withering criticism of Kemp is the latest barb traded in a combative and closely watched race for Georgia governor.

"We live in a state of fear," Abrams said. "And this is a governor who for the last four years has beat his chest but delivered very little for most Georgians."

Abrams said gang crime and gun violence have risen in Georgia since Kemp weakened laws governing firearms after being elected in 2018. On economic issues, Abrams said housing prices have "skyrocketed," as equity investors have purchased 30 percent of the homes in the state, and 1.4 million people are without health insurance.

"We have seniors who are being forced out of their homes because this governor refuses to address the issue of housing crises," she said.

Kemp signed a bill in 2019 that banned abortions once a fetal heartbeat could be detected, sometimes as soon as six weeks into a pregnancy. Abrams said Kemp "weakened" privacy and women's rights by denying access to reproductive care.

"The most dangerous thing facing Georgia is four more years of Brian Kemp," she said.

Kemp responded by saying that Abrams was trying to distract from her own record. Linking Abrams to President Joe Biden, Kemp pointed out that she openly lobbied to be picked as his running mate in 2020. Kemp said that Abrams has supported Biden's policies that he said "have raised taxes on hardworking Americans in Georgia's when they promised they would not."

"My focus is gonna be what it was when I opened the debate, and that is helping you fight through 40-year-high inflation and disastrous policies in Washington, D.C.," said Kemp.

Kemp said he was working with the Legislature to suspend the state's gas tax in order to give Georgians economic relief. He said that under his watch, Georgia has aggressively pursued human traffickers while supporting victims, and that the Legislature extended Medicaid benefits to new mothers for up to a year after giving birth.

"It shows you our state," he said. "That we value life and that we care."

Abrams repeatedly criticized Kemp during the debate for not expanding Medicaid to low-income households as Republican-leaning states such as Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana and others already have. She said expanding Medicaid would mean $3.5 billion from the federal government that would also help prop up hospitals currently at risk of closing.

Newsweek reached out to the campaigns of Abrams and Kemp for comment.

Update 10/17/22, 9:00 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and background.