Secretary of State Brian Kemp running for Georgia governor

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2011 file photo, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp speaks in Atlanta. The state of Georgia is asking President-elect Donald Trump to investigate “failed cyber-attacks” on its Secretary of State’s network firewall apparently by the U.S. Homeland Security Department. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2011 file photo, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp speaks in Atlanta. The state of Georgia is asking President-elect Donald Trump to investigate “failed cyber-attacks” on its Secretary of State’s network firewall apparently by the U.S. Homeland Security Department. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

By Associated Press March 31, 2017 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s secretary of state has announced that he’ll run for governor in 2018.

Brian Kemp’s announcement on Friday makes him the first candidate from either party to formally announce. Kemp, a Republican, has been the state’s top elections official since 2010.

In Friday’s written statement, Kemp said he wants to focus on the state’s economy, particularly in rural Georgia.

Kemp previously served in the state Senate. He was appointed secretary of state when Karen Handel resigned to focus on a run for governor. Kemp easily won re-election in 2014.

The field to replace Gov. Nathan Deal, who is constitutionally limited to two consecutive terms, is expected to become crowded.