ATL Standard

Georgia’s only Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams clarified comments that Georgia is the “worst state in the country to live in,” citing Gov. Brian Kemp as a failed governor.

Abrams highlighted her comments in a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta, stating that while she made an “inelegant statement,” she stood by it.

"Brian Kemp is a failed governor, who doesn't care about the people of Georgia," she told FOX 5 Atlanta. "If you look at his record, if you look at the results under his four years of leadership, there has been failure after failure."

Abrams made the comment during a recent Democratic Party Gala in Norcross, at the time acknowledging that her Republican opponents would probably attack her over it. 

Among other things, Abrams has criticized the "constitutional carry" bill that passed in the state earlier this year, which removed the requirement for Georgians to have a license to carry concealed guns in public; the Fox 5 report said. She also voiced criticism over Kemp's decision to cut the state budget instead of address the state's high rate of HIV diagnoses. In 2019, Georgia had the most diagnoses per 100,000 people. 

"While he may have declared the pandemic over, it is not over for millions of Georgians, and they deserve his help," Abrams added.