Democrats, Republicans Battle In Georgia

Like other states, Georgia is embroiled in a mid-season election that could be one of the most contentious in State history.

Democrats and Republicans have been charged with fighting for the soul of their party or steering it to the hard right or left.

After a heated primary contest, Republicans are pitting two bitter rivals against each other in the run-off for the GOP nomination for governor.  Secretary of State Brian Kemp, while running one of the most discouraging campaigns in Georgia history, will face Lt. Governor Casey Cagle in July.  Earlier in the campaign,  Kemp ran an ad promising to round up illegal immigrants in his pickup truck and take them back across the border to Mexico,  which garnered him national attention.  He also displayed a rifle in one commercial in support of the Second Amendment.  The candidate labels himself an unapologetic, unconventional conservative in the spirit of Trump.

On the other hand,  Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, who finished first among Republicans in the primary for governor and has the backing of the GOP standard-bearer,  has pledged to run a more conventional race for the state's highest office.  Unlike Kemp,  Cagle promises not to engage in gimmicks to get votes but to emphasize Georgia's growing economy,  a need to strengthen public education, and a sensible approach to immigration to not offend other groups in a state that is becoming less white,  unlike others in the GOP.  If he succeeds,  he will have the help of moderates or independent voters to thank.

Like Republicans,  Democrats seem divided on how to take back the governorship.  Stacy Abrams,  who defeated her Democratic rival handily in the primary to become the first African American woman nominated by a major party for governor,  ran a back-to-the-basics campaign that she plans to continue in the general election.  Abrams thinks Democrats can win without pandering to Republicans or moderates due to shifting demographics and a hatred for Trump that looks promising for the Democratic Party. She feels that reaching out to other groups has not worked in the past and that it is best to energize the base.  But regardless of Abram's big victory over her more conservative opponent,  there are still those in her ranks who strongly feel she will have to appeal to outsiders in what is expected to be a tight race to help close the gap. They have big plans if she wins and doesn't want to leave anything to chance.

Whether Republicans hold on to the governorship in Georgia or Democrats upstage them,  the State will be on a markedly different course for the first time since 1970.