Kemp: I Win. Abrams: Not Yet. GA Governor's Race Saga Continues

ATLANTA, GA -- The nation's most watched governor's race came seemingly to a conclusion this week, at least according to the man now getting ready to become Georgia's 83rd governor in history. His opponent, however, is preparing to challenge the results in court, as Georgia's governor's race continues to make national headlines.

Throughout this election, Patch has brought you the latest headlines and in-depth developments in the race between Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams to replace Gov. Nathan Deal, who could not run for a third term. On Election Day and Election Night, we brought you up-t0-the-minute results and reactions. But the race seemingly isn't over yet, and here are the most recent developments in this ongoing political saga.

On Sunday, Abrams' campaign filed a federal lawsuit, asking a judge to delay vote certifications until Wednesday. It also asks a judge to require that officials count any votes that were rejected improperly, including absentee and provisional ballots, specifically naming Gwinnett and DeKalb counties as places where large numbers of rejected votes should be counted.

Abrams also addressed her supporters on Sunday via Facebook Live:

On Wednesday afternoon, Kemp claimed victory and, standing alongside Deal, announced his transition team Thursday morning. Kemp's campaign says there are not enough outstanding votes that remain to be counted that would change the election's outcome.

He also announced his formal resignation as secretary of state, and Deal named Robyn Crittenden, commissioner of the state Department of Human Services, to the post.

Abrams, however, is preparing to mount legal challenges, arguing that not every vote has been counted. She is also arguing that Hurricane Michael impacted the issuance of absentee ballots in southwest Georgia's Dougherty County. Abrams needs a little more than 25,000 votes for her that would push the race into a runoff.

With all 159 counties reporting and 100 percent of precincts counted, unofficial final numbers from the secretary of state's office show Kemp with 1,973.875 votes to Abrams 1,910,708, a difference of more than 63,000 votes. while Libertarian Ted Metz has 37,093. That puts Kemp at 50.33% to Abrams 48.72%.

On Thursday, Kemp said "the votes are not there for her," adding there are about 25,000 outstanding absentee ballots that make his lead insurmountable. Abrams campaign says Kemp's information is not credible.

The state chapter of the NAACP have also filed lawsuits claiming Spelman and Morehouse College students were improperly forced to vote with a provisional ballot because their names didn't appear on voter registration lists.

• Kemp Resigns As Sec. Of State, Names Governor's Transition Team
• Kemp Claims Win In GA Governor’s Race; Abrams Doesn't Concede
• Gallery: Election Day In Georgia

Kemp and Abrams both brought in their respective party's biggest names over the campaign's final weekend. Oprah Winfrey and former president Barack Obama campaigned for Abrams, while Vice President Mike Pence and the nation's biggest political name of them all -- President Donald Trump -- stumped for Kemp.

On Friday, Trump urged the state to move forward:

Kemp agreed:

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