Georgia GOP Gov. Kemp maintains double-digit lead over Perdue, GOP primary field: poll

Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp has a 20-point lead over closest challenger, Trumped-backed David Perdue and the rest of the GOP primary field trying to unseat him, according to a new University of Georgia poll. 

The poll, which surveyed likely Republican voters, founder that 53% are planning to support Kemp in the race, while just 26% support Perdue, a former U.S. senator.

Kemp also has a double-digit lead over Perdue on the question of favorability – with a 71% positive rating, compared to Perdue's 57%. 

Kemp has consistently polled ahead of the rest of the primary field, and that pattern does not appear to be shifting as the May 24 primary draws near.

Former President Donald Trump's relationship with Kemp fell apart in the aftermath of the 2020 elections.

After several recounts, it was determined that Trump lost the state to President Biden by a slim margin.

The former president and his allies, including then-Sen. Perdue, said widespread vote fraud had cost Trump the state race, and likely reelection, and that Kemp fought against their efforts and refused to overturn the state results.

A debate Monday night highlighted Kemp and Perdue's differing opinions on the aftermath of the 2020 election.

"The only reason I’m not in the United States Senate is because you caved in and gave the election to ... liberal Democrats," said Perdue, who narrowly lost his seat to now-Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, in a runoff election. 

"Weak leaders blame everybody else for their own loss instead of themselves," Kemp shot back.

The poll established that 87% of likely Republican voters say election security is "extremely" or "very important" to them. About 60% are "very" or "somewhat confident" that the 2020 elections were conducted fairly and yielded an accurate result. 

The winner of the May 24 primary will face Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams.

In Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial race, Kemp narrowly defeated Abrams, a former state legislator whose name recognition has vastly increased as a result of her national voting rights and get-out-the-vote efforts since the loss.