Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has been tapped to chair the Republican Governors Association (RGA) for 2025, the group announced Wednesday.
Kemp currently serves as the RGA's vice chair, so the announcement didn't come as a shock. He will succeed Tennesse Governor Bill Lee. Meanwhile, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte will become the vice chair of the organization next year.
What Is the Republican Governors Association?
The RGA is a group of 27 GOP governors dedicated to helping Republicans get elected to governorships across the country.
Republicans running for governorships did well in the November 5 election, securing eight out of the 11 state races up for grabs.
Kemp is expected to spread his traditional brand of conservatism nationwide as chair of the RGA.
"Republican governors are making commonsense, conservative policies a reality, putting families and children first, and making our states the best places to run a business and raise a family," Kemp said in a Wednesday statement.
Brian Kemp's Relationship With Donald Trump
Kemp and President-elect Donald Trump have had a rocky relationship which recently seemed to smooth out.
Trump's animosity toward Kemp started after the governor refused to help Trump in his alleged scheme to overturn now-President Joe Biden's narrow 2020 election victory in Georgia. After Trump lost the presidency to Biden four years ago, he repeatedly claimed the election was stolen via widespread voter fraud, despite there being no evidence to back up such claims.
Trump is facing charges in Georgia for the alleged scheme, along with over a dozen of his current and former allies. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, claiming the case is politically motivated. The fate of the case remains unclear with Trump returning to the White House in January.
At a Georgia campaign rally in August, Trump called Kemps "a bad guy."
But Trump changed his tune weeks later after Kemp appeared on Fox News, telling host Sean Hannity that he continues to support Trump and will help him win Georgia.
Trump thanked Kemp "for all of your help and support in Georgia," adding, "I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
In Kemp's Wednesday statement, he said, "I look forward to working with my fellow Republican governors and President Trump to keep getting the job done for the American people and to add even more Republican governors to our ranks."
What Are Kemp's Political Aspirations?
Kemp is expected to visit states where Republicans are running for office in 2025 and 2026 to lend a hand while also boosting his own national profile.
The Georgia governor is currently serving his final gubernatorial term, which will end in 2027.
Kemp could run against Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia in 2026, but some speculate that he may run for president instead. Being the RGA chair will help Kemp maintain the national contacts he needs to fundraise and win support for either of those races.
The RGA helped Kemp beat Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams in 2018 and Trump-endorsed candidate David Perdue in the 2022 Republican primary.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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