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Candidate Comparisons

The NWLC Action Fund aims to inform the public about candidates’ positions on issues affecting gender justice. We encourage voters to get informed, learn where their candidates stand, and to encourage candidates to adopt policy positions that support women and girls. 

Stacey
Abrams

vs.

Brian
Kemp

Supports

Protect and strengthen abortion and contraception access

Opposes

Supports

Fund affordable and accessible child care

Supports

Supports

Strengthen paid family and medical leave

Unknown Position

Unknown Position

Protect women, especially women of color, and others from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Unknown Position

Supports

Raise the minimum wage

Unknown Position

Supports

Keep all students—including all LGBTQI+ children and children of color—safe from discrimination and harassment

Opposes

Supports

Prevent censorship in school curricula

Opposes

Supports

Advance gun safety measures that keep schools free from gun violence

Opposes

Champion

Expand voting access

Opposes

Supports

Build diverse courts that work for everyone

Unknown Position

Supports

Strengthen and expand maternal health care

Opposes

NWLC Action Fund does not endorse candidates.  These voter guides are an educational resource for the public and are not intended to be an endorsement of any candidate or political party. Candidates’ positions on the issues are determined using recorded votes for and against legislation; statements from interviews, press appearances, press releases and candidate events; social media posts from verified accounts; and endorsements from organizations and associations.

Evidences/Citations

Abortion

Stacey Abrams

  1. Codify the right to abortion in-state and support the creation of a nationwide right that stops abortion bans and guarantees that the right and access to abortion does not depend on where a person lives.
    1.  Abrams’ campaign website includes “reproductive freedom” as a main policy issue and says “As the next Governor of Georgia, Stacey Abrams will defend the right to an abortion, fight for women’s access to full reproductive health care and support healthy pregnancies.” 
    2. After the leaked SCOTUS opinion, Abrams asked supporters to donate to abortion funds in lieu of contributions to her campaign.
  2. Ensure that people’s access to health care is free from stigma, barriers, and restrictions, including abortion care, contraceptives, and maternal health care.
    1.  In a one-on-one interview, she said “As governor, my intention is to protect the women of Georgia, protect their right to choose, and that means protecting their ability to plan for their families…I also promise that I will veto any of the new laws that we hear Republicans talking about—laws that would criminalize abortion, laws that would put women in prison and their doctors in there with them.”  
  3. Make sure quality pregnancy supports are accessible, affordable, and culturally competent for all—including protections and supports, like doula access, are available that promote the health outcomes of Georgia’s pregnant people, especially Black women.
    1. Includes “Promote prenatal healthcare for women and their families, including full-range access to care in the event of miscarriage or other complications. Protect doctors who serve families during pregnancy loss.” under her health care plan.
    2. Includes “End state funding of so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which lack oversight, do not use medically sound standards, and do not provide medically accurate information to women who are pregnant.” under her health care plan
    3. Includes “Fund rural hospitals through immediate Medicaid expansion. Leverage state and federal programs to incentivize more doctors and medical personnel to locate in under-served areas and reduce our maternal and infant mortality rates” under her health care plan
    4. Abrams has spoken against the high maternal mortality rates in Georgia.
  4. Safeguard and expand access to contraception
    1. Includes “Ensure all Georgians have access to the health care they need, including reproductive health care. Work to increase safe and affordable access to contraceptives and achieve reproductive justice for women and families” under her health care plan.
    2. Tweeted in support of expanding Medicaid to provide more contraception.

Family Economic Security

Stacey Abrams

  1. Make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes 
    1. Voted against SR 415, which would have prohibited future increases in Georgia’s state income tax  
    2. In 2018, Abrams formed a coalition in the Georgia State Assembly to oppose a GOP tax reform bill that would create a flat state income tax. 
  2. Help families with the rising cost of child care by investing in high-quality, affordable child care 
    1. Under the “Education Mobility” section of policies on her campaign website, the campaign says “Providing high-quality, affordable child care to all families is one of the most important investments we can make to enable parents to fulfill their potential and to prepare all children to be skilled, well-rounded and civic-minded citizens in the future.”  
    2. In the last election, she suggested a scholarship and tax credit scheme to increase access to child care and quality of life for workers  
    3. She tweeted support for improved child care in tweets from 2017 and 2018.
  3. Establish universal paid family and medical leave
    1. Under the “protect workers” piece of the economic mobility plan on her website, Abrams campaigns to “secure legislative and regulatory changes such as paid sick leave.” 
    2. In 2018, she tweeted support for companies that have provided paid parental leave.
  4. Protect women, especially women of color, and others from discrimination and harassment in the workplace
    1. Research into this candidate has yielded no statements indicating support or opposition.
  5. Pay workers fairly, including ensuring equal pay for all and raising the minimum wage to at least $15/hour for all working people
    1. When she was GA House Minority leader, Abrams said. “As the state which is the 8th largest in the union, we certainly owe it to our families to offer them not only a good wage, but a livable wage.” (MIT estimates a living wage in Georgia for a single adult without children is $17.64).
    2. In 2017, Abrams tweeted in support of raising the minimum wage:

Education

Stacey Abrams

  1. Support students’ ability to learn and be themselves by keeping them safe from discrimination and harassment in school.
    1. Her campaign website advocates for inclusive policies for transgender students, saying that “Transgender and nonbinary youth who have access to a gender-affirming space at school–like a supportive sports team–are 25% less likely to attempt suicide over the course of a year.” 
  2. Oppose efforts to fuel divisions in our communities by vilifying and excluding transgender students.
    1. Under social mobility priorities, her campaign website also explicitly names “Nurture and Protect LGBTQ+ children” as a priority 
    2. She was endorsed by HRC. In her response, she said “My administration will seek to stop hate crimes, particularly among trans women of color, to expand mental health resources and to reduce bullying and suicide among trans youth.” 
  3. Oppose censorship of schools’ ability to teach truth, including about race and gender and how they have been used to divide us.
    1. Under the “Educational Mobility” section of her campaign website, it lists defending complete and honest education: “Reject attempts to teach children misinformation in the public school system…Some topics like slavery, segregation or the Trail of Tears are difficult, but our children must be given age-appropriate lessons and context. I will oppose policies that drive a wedge between educators and families, and I will support programs that build trust and increase collaboration between those who are most engaged in our children’s success.” 
    2. In response to Kemps’ Parental Bill of Rights law, she said “We should never sign legislation that authorizes lying to our children, because that’s what this is.” 
  4. Ensure full funding that meets every school’s needs – including schools building safer environments by prioritizing COVID safety measures.
    1. When asked if she would roll back mask mandates, she said “the state is not in a “place where that conversation is ready, because we have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Covid hygiene is going to be a point of debate for a very long time, and we can only follow the science and follow our circumstances,” she said, adding that if elected governor, she would “look at the science, to follow the protocols, and to set the right example.”
    2. “Fund, Protect, and Support Students” is an issue pillar of her campaign website
  5. Safeguard students’ ability to live full, dignified lives free from gun violence.
    1. Plans to roll back Kemp’s expanded conceal carry law as well as the “campus carry” law.
    2. In a Twitter thread, Abrams expressed her support for expanded gun control measures.

Democracy

Stacey Abrams

  1. Protect and expand access to the ballot and restore the Voting Rights Act.  
    1. Wrote a 2021 op-ed for the Washington Post laying out important voting reforms needed: 
    2. “The agenda to restore democracy also includes passing the For the People Act to protect and expand voting rights, fight gerrymandering and reduce the influence of money in politics; the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and the Protecting Our Democracy Act to constrain the corruption of future presidents who deem themselves above the law.” 
  2. Ensure all voters have equal access to the ballot box and their votes are counted fairly, including expanded early voting days, language access protections for Limited English Proficient (LEP) voters, and a district map that empowers all voters
    1. Stacey Abrams created Fair Fight to fight for free and fair elections for all Georgians 
    2. “Voting Rights” is a main policy bucket on her campaign website, including policy proposals on voter registration, voting convenience, arbitrary rejection of ballots, and gerrymandering 
  3. Reshape the makeup of the judiciary by working with federal lawmakers to nominate and confirm judges with a strong record of supporting gender and racial justice issues and who affirmatively declare they will uphold equality, opportunity for all, individual liberty, and the freedom to make personal decisions about our bodies and relationships.
    1. Tweeted support for KBJ’s confirmation.

Abortion

Brian Kemp

  1. Codify the right to abortion in-state and support the creation of a nationwide right that stops abortion bans and guarantees that the right and access to abortion does not depend on where a person lives. 
    1. Brian Kemp tweeted a statement in support of the leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe.
  2. Ensure that people’s access to health care is free from stigma, barriers, and restrictions, including abortion care, contraceptives, and maternal health care.
    1. Supported Georgia HB 481, which banned abortion in Georgia after a fetal heartbeat is detected
  3. The bill states “No abortion is authorized or shall be performed if the unborn child has been determined to have a human heartbeat,” the bill states, unless the pregnancy risks the life or poses substantial and irreversible physical harm to the pregnant woman.
  4. Make sure quality pregnancy supports are accessible, affordable, and culturally competent for all – including protections and supports, like doula access, are available that promote the health outcomes of Georgia’s pregnant people, especially Black women.
  5. Ordered over $10 million in cuts to Georgia’s Department of Community Health
  6. Has consistently proposed budget cuts to grants that fund the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Mortality
  7. Safeguard and expand access to contraception. 
  8. Kemp has not spoken on contraception access but did admit that he had not heard of the Griswold v. Connecticut ruling guaranteeing access
  9. Kemp has said he is open to banning contraception “depending on where the legislatures are” during the next session.
  10. Kemp’s campaign responded to the hot mic audio from last week saying he has never opposed access to contraception – https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/gov-kemp-plan-b-contraception-stance/85-f82e7445-8762-4fe9-8006-e1dc491b6920 
  11. June 2022 Kemp saying he doesn’t know what Griswold v. Connecticut is, note that the article links to a 2018 campaign website that says he supports “life at conception” –https://heartlandsignal.com/2022/06/07/brian-kemp-supports-birth-control-bans-despite-not-knowing-of-supreme-court-case-that-legalized-contraceptives/ 

Family Economic Security

Brian Kemp

  1. Make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes 
    1. Pledged more tax cuts if reelected  
  2. Help families with the rising cost of child care by investing in high-quality, affordable child care 
    1. Expanded Georgia’s child care assistance program to help workers impacted by COVID
    2. In 2021, Governor Kemp and Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs announced that Georgia will expand its Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program by 10,000 children, beginning November 1, 2021
  3. Establish universal paid family and medical leave 
    1. Kemp signed HB 146 to provide three weeks of paid parental leave for state employees, including employees of local boards of education
      1. In a joint statement, Speaker David Ralston said “While this measure does not impose any mandate on private businesses, it is our hope that it may also serve as an example for businesses looking to attract and retain the best employees”
      2. Kemp has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business, which has called paid leave “burdensome” and has testified in front of Congress against federal paid leave programs
    2. Research into this candidate has yielded no statements indicating support or opposition
  4. Protect women, especially women of color, and others from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
    1. Kemp signed an executive order to make it easier for legislative staff in Georgia to file harassment complaints
    2. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that “Twenty-five out of 26 sexual misconduct complaints lodged with the state over the past three years resulted in zero public disciplinary action — no license revocations, no license suspensions, no therapists placed on probation, no reprimands.”
  5. Pay workers fairly, including ensuring equal pay for all and raising the minimum wage to at least $15/hour for all working people
    1. In 2022, Kemp kept a campaign promise to raise state and university staff pay by $5,000 per year and K-12 teacher pay by $2,000, though the raise is still being worked into the budget.
    2. Kemp has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business, which has opposed federal increases to the minimum wage and paying for overtime

Education

Brian Kemp

  1. Support students’ ability to learn and be themselves by keeping them safe from discrimination and harassment in school.
    1. Research into this candidate has yielded no statements indicating support or opposition.
  2. Oppose efforts to fuel divisions in our communities by vilifying and excluding transgender students.
    1. In his State of the State address, he said “I strongly support to ensure fairness in school sports and address obscene materials online and in our school libraries.”
  3. Supported and signed a bill banning trans athletes from school sports, saying “We put students and parents first by putting woke politics out the classroom and off the ball field.”
    1. Oppose censorship of schools’ ability to teach truth, including about race and gender and how they have been used to divide us.
    2. Supported and signed legislation, including Georgia HB 1084, which states The law defines “divisive concepts” as, among others, those that teach “the United States of America is fundamentally racist; an individual, by virtue of his or her race, is inherently or consciously racist or oppressive toward individuals of other races,” and “an individual, solely by virtue of his or her race, bears individual responsibility for actions committed in the past by other individuals of the same race.”
    3. At a press conference, he also said “Today we’re here … to sign legislation that puts our children ahead of partisan agenda and gets parents back in charge of their kids’ education.”
  4. Advance gun safety measures that keep schools free from gun violence.
    1. Kemp signed a law allowing guns to be carried without a license.
    2. Kemp’s campaign received $50,000 from the CEO of a gun manufacturer.
  5. That all students can learn and grow free from harassment and gender-based violence
    1. Kemp announced that the state is giving $2.6 million to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth to increase training capacity and classes available to school resource officers. He said the state will used $1 million in federal money to enhance school protection efforts statewide, including training staff and school resource officers.
  6. Ensure full funding that meets every school’s needs – including schools building safer environments by prioritizing COVID safety measures.
    1. Signed SB514 letting parents to opt out of school mask mandates.

 

Democracy

Brian Kemp

  1. Protect and expand access to the ballot and restore the Voting Rights Act. 
    1. Kemp signed the Election Integrity Act “imposing voter ID requirements, limiting drop boxes and allowing state takeovers of local elections.”
      1. Kemp said “Significant reforms to our state elections were needed. There’s no doubt there were many alarming issues with how the election was handled, and those problems, understandably, led to a crisis of confidence in the ballot box here in Georgia”
    2. “On a single day in late July 2017, Kemp’s office” – he was Secretary of State at the time – “had removed from the rolls 560,000 Georgians who had been flagged because they’d skipped one too many elections”
  2. Ensure all voters have equal access to the ballot box and their votes are counted fairly, including expanded early voting days, language access protections for Limited English Proficient (LEP) voters, and a district map that empowers all voters. 
    1. Kemp signed SB 441, which “allows the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to begin probes of alleged election wrongdoing without a request from an outside official” 
  3. Reshape the makeup of the judiciary by working with federal lawmakers to nominate and confirm judges with a strong record of supporting gender and racial justice issues and who affirmatively declare they will uphold equality, opportunity for all, individual liberty, and the freedom to make personal decisions about our bodies and relationships.
    1. Kemp nominated Andrew Pinson to the Georgia Supreme Court. Pinson is “a rising young star in the conservative legal world.”