Former Vice President Mike Pence announced this Friday that he will campaign for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp‘s reelection bid, The Hill reports.
The move is notable because it signifies a break from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Kemp’s rival, Sen. David Perdue, in the state primary. Pence said in a statement that Kemp is “my friend, a man dedicated to faith, family and the people of Georgia.”
“He built a safer and stronger Georgia by cutting taxes, empowering parents and investing in teachers, funding law enforcement, and standing strong for the right to life,” Pence said in the statement. “I am proud to offer my full support for four more years of Brian Kemp as governor of the great state of Georgia!”
NEW: Former VP Mike Pence will headline an election-eve rally for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
(Reminder: Kemp is facing a primary challenge from Trump-backed David Perdue) #gapol pic.twitter.com/I7MTodiDJF
— Blayne Alexander (@ReporterBlayne) May 13, 2022
Kemp has been on the receiving end of Trump’s ire since he refused to overturn the state’s 2020 election results. On Wednesday, Trump released a statement criticizing Kemp and his supporters, saying, “Today, the worst ‘election integrity’ Governor in the country, Brian Kemp, loaded the great state of Georgia up with RINOs [Republicans in name only].”
This is not the first time Pence has distanced himself from Trump. If February, he said that “President Trump is wrong” and that he “had no right to overturn the election” after Trump falsely suggested that Pence had the power to overturn the election results.
