Monday, October 13, 2025

Georgia Governor Race 10-13-25

Governor Brian Kemp will complete his 2 terms as Governor in Georgia in 2025. He has kept Georgia as the #1 Business Friendly State. Rural Georgia is Republican, but Democrats have dominated the big cities. Kemp was able to keep his Republican Cabinet and control of the Georgia Legislature by pandering to Democrats. Kemp is among the last and was the most successful RINO. 

Georgia's economy consistently ranks among the largest in the United States, holding the 8th position in 2025 with a GDP of approximately $883 billion. The state's economy is strong, with key industries like transportation, logistics, finance, and film production contributing to its high ranking and continued growth. 

Key Details

·       Rank: Georgia is the 8th largest economy among U.S. states.

·       GDP: The state's Gross Domestic Product is around $883 billion in 2025.

·       Economic Drivers: Georgia's economic success is driven by a robust transportation sector (including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), a thriving tech sector, and a strong presence of major corporations.

·       Growth: The state's economy has experienced strong growth, with reports indicating a substantial expansion in real terms during 2024. 

Based on data for the 2024 calendar year, Georgia's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranked 8th among all U.S. states and territories. The state's GDP for 2024 was recorded as $882.5 billion. 

Factors in Georgia's economy

·       Logistics hub: Atlanta's role as a major transportation and logistics center is a key economic driver.

·       Tech and film: The state has seen rapid growth in its fintech and film production industries.

·       Diverse economy: Georgia's broad economic base, with industries including manufacturing and international trade, is considered a source of strength. 

Georgia vs. comparable economies

·       Georgia's economy is comparable to Poland's national economy.

·       In 2024, Georgia's nominal GDP was just ahead of Washington ($854.7 billion) and New Jersey ($846.6 billion). 

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+does+georgia+gdp+rank+among+states

Trump has endorsed Georgia Lt Governor Burt Jones for the Governor’s Race in 2026. Brian Kemp has endorsed Derek Dooley for the Governor’s Race in 2026. Dooley has worked as a Coach who supports Trump.

Burt Jones is a businessman and the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, having taken office in January 2023. Before his election as lieutenant governor, he was a member of the Georgia State Senate. Jones is a sixth-generation Georgia native from Jackson. 

Early life and education

·       Education: Jones graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a history degree in 2003 and also studied risk management at the Hartford School of Insurance.

·       Athletics: He played football for UGA, serving as team captain in 2002 when they won the SEC Championship.

·       Business career: Jones is involved with his family's business, Jones Petroleum, and founded JP Capital & Insurance, Inc., a risk-management company. 

Political career

·       State Senate: Jones represented District 25 in the Georgia State Senate from 2012 to 2023, where he supported educational initiatives and the establishment of two rural hospitals.

·       Lieutenant Governor: He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in the 2022 election and began his term on January 9, 2023.

·       Gubernatorial campaign: In 2025, Jones announced his candidacy for governor in the 2026 election. 

Political priorities

Jones has focused on improving education, lowering taxes, enhancing public safety, and increasing economic opportunities for families in Georgia. 

Personal life

Jones, his wife Jan, and their two children, Stella and Banks, live in Jackson and attend Rock Springs Church. 

Burt Jones is a businessman and the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, having taken office in January 2023. Before his election as lieutenant governor, he was a Georgia state senator and ran a business in his family's petroleum distribution company. He is currently seeking the Republican nomination for the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race. 

Early life and education

·       Family and heritage: Jones is a sixth-generation native of Jackson, Georgia, where he continues to live with his family.

·       College and athletics: He attended the University of Georgia, where he was a four-year letterman on the football team. As a former walk-on, he was voted a permanent team captain in 2002, the year the Bulldogs won their first SEC Championship in two decades. In 2014, he was recognized as a UGA Distinguished Alumni and was included in its "40 Under 40" list.

·       Business career: Jones works in his family's business, Jones Petroleum, and also founded JP Capital & Insurance, Inc., a risk-management company. 

Political career

·       State Senator (2013–2023): Jones was elected to the Georgia State Senate for the 25th District in 2012, serving five terms until 2023. During his tenure, his priorities included job growth, expanding career and technical colleges, and addressing rural healthcare needs. He was also a proponent of the Georgia Election Integrity Act (S.B. 202), which received praise from Donald Trump.

·       Lieutenant Governor (2023–present): Jones was elected as Georgia's 13th Lieutenant Governor in November 2022 and assumed office in January 2023. He presides over the Georgia State Senate and has focused on issues such as tax reform, school choice, and support for law enforcement.

·       2026 Gubernatorial campaign: In July 2025, Jones officially announced his campaign for governor of Georgia. He is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Governor Brian Kemp, who is term-limited. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=burt+jones+ga+Lt+Gov+biography

Comments

The Great Offshoring of US Manufacturing left Rural Georgia without the “good jobs” Rural families needed to make ends meet. The prospect of having these jobs returned is the next challenge the next Georgia Governor will face. If Georgia’s Rural Counties and Rural Cities are able to attract small manufacturing companies, it will restore rural Georgia. It will take years to rebuild the Rural Georgia Economy to its former Glory.

I lived in Salina Kansas for 8 years before moving to Dunwoody GA. Salina was a “Market Town” at the junction of I-70 and I-35. We had a population of 40,000 and had 40 small to large manufacturing companies. Similar “Market Towns” in Georgia should be the best suited to become Georgia’s first towns to recover from the manufacturing exodus.

We remain in Dunwoody. We like the weather. Northern Georgia is less likely to experience Tornados than occur in Tennessee and less likely to experience Hurricane damage than Florida. Our Treaty with Alabama allows us to have all Tornados stop at the Alabama State Line. Our Treaty with Florida allows us to have all Hurricane damage to occur South of I-20. We get all of this in  exchange for some water from the Chattahoochee River. We would like access to the Tennessee River Water and continue to lobby Tennessee to correct this mistake.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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