Georgia gubernatorial showdown: Kemp hauls in nearly $7 million in battle against Abrams

FIRST ON FOX: Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia hauled in nearly $7 million in fundraising the past two months as he runs for re-election this year in a rematch against Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, whom he narrowly defeated four years ago.

Kemp’s re-election campaign brought in $3.8 million from May 1 through the end of June, according to figures the governor’s political team shared first nationally with Fox News on Wednesday. And the allied Georgians First Leadership Committee raised $3 million during the same two-month period.

And Kemp will report roughly $7 million cash on hand between his re-election campaign and his leadership committee.

While the leadership committee can raise unlimited donations, a judicial ruling prevented the panel from fundraising until the GOP gubernatorial nomination was decided.

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Kemp easily defeated a Republican challenge from former Sen. David Perdue — who was endorsed and heavily supported by former President Donald Trump — in the state’s May 24 GOP gubernatorial primary.

Abrams, a former state Democratic legislative leader and voting rights champion who’s a Democratic Party rising star, has yet to report her latest figures. But Abrams, a fundraising giant, hauled in $11.7 million in the February-April three-month period, with more than $8 million in her campaign coffers.

Abrams did not face any opposition for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

The latest public opinion polling in Georgia, once a reliably red state that’s turned purple in recent election cycles, indicates a close contest between Kemp and Abrams.