Georgia gubernatorial candidate David Perdue said a new state law gives Governor Brian Kemp a significant financial advantage as he seeks reelection, and this week Perdue filed suit to challenge that law’s constitutionality.
In his lawsuit, Perdue, a former Republican U.S. senator, cited Senate Bill 221. The bill became law in July of last year, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.
That law, Perdue said, allows Kemp, the incumbent, to collect and spend unlimited campaign contributions through a leadership committee. Perdue said the law bars other candidates from doing the same.
Perdue spokeswoman Jenni Sweat told The Georgia Star News this week that Kemp spearheaded the law to protect himself and to silence those who challenge him for his seat.
“Making sure all candidates play by the same rules is just common sense, but Brian Kemp has abandoned that to advance his own self-interests. This is exactly what people hate about politics,” Sweat said, relaying a message from Perdue.
“As an outsider to this political process, this is the most self-serving thing I’ve discovered so far. Only a 20-year career politician like Kemp would create an unfair advantage to line his campaign coffers for his own self-preservation. He’d never get away with this in the real world.”
Kemp for Governor campaign spokesman Tate Mitchell on Friday disregarded Perdue’s suit.
“David Perdue’s record of shady stock deals makes clear that he really doesn’t like playing by the rules, so this laughable lawsuit shouldn’t surprise anyone,” Mitchell said.
Seven of the bill’s eight sponsors did not return The Star News’ requests for comment. Some of those sponsors hold leadership positions in the senate. They include:
• Senator Jeff Mullis (R- Chickamauga)
• Senator and President Pro Tempore Butch Miller (R-Gainesville)
• Senator and Majority Leader Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton)
• Senator and Majority Whip Steve Gooch (R- Dahlonega)
• Senator and Majority Caucus Chair John Kennedy (R-Macon)
• Senator and Majority Caucus Vice Chair Larry Walker (R-Perry)
• Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge)
• Senator Bill Cowsert (R-Athens)
Walker, the only senator to respond to The Star News, declined comment.
Last month, Perdue and another Georgia resident cited fraud in the 2020 elections in Fulton County and filed a suit seeking greater election transparency.
In their lawsuit, Perdue and Elizabeth Grace Lennon requested access to Fulton County’s absentee ballots and absentee envelopes from last year. They filed the suit in the Superior Court of Fulton County. Lennon said county officials denied her the right to vote.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Georgia State Capitol” by Connor Carey CC BY-SA 3.0.
