In a recent development in Atlanta, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp may soon become the joint highest-paid governor in the United States, sharing the distinction with New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul. This comes as part of a proposal put forward on Thursday to increase salaries for certain state officials, all of whom are Republicans. The proposal, integrated into House Bill 86, seeks to boost the earnings of Georgia’s statewide elected officials, spanning judges on the state Supreme Court and other prominent state courts.
If enacted, the proposal would see Governor Kemp’s salary rise from $182,000 to $250,000 annually, matching Governor Hochul’s earnings as detailed by New York state government data. On the other end of the spectrum, Maine Governor Janet Mills currently has the lowest salary for a U.S. governor at $70,000 per year. Before reaching Governor Kemp’s desk for approval or veto, the bill requires approval from the Georgia House in the final days of the 2025 legislative session. Representative Rob Leverett, a Republican from Elberton and the bill’s sponsor, expressed surprise at the amendment and is still contemplative about his stance on it.
Governor Kemp was not forewarned about this salary amendment, as noted by his spokesperson, Garrison Douglas, who refrained from further comments. State Senator John Albers, a Republican from Roswell, emphasized the importance of updating statewide salaries. He pointed out that Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is currently on track to surpass Kemp’s earnings. Albers described the amendment as timely, remarking, “I believe it’s time that we stood up and said it’s the right thing to do because it’s woefully out of date.”
Additionally, the proposal includes pay raises for several other high-profile statewide officials. These include Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, alongside others such as Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Insurance Commissioner John King, Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes, and State Superintendent Richard Woods. Their salaries would climb to $200,000 annually. Presently, these roles offer salaries ranging from $99,000, which Jones received last year, to the $146,000 Carr earned.
House Speaker Jon Burns is also set to benefit, with a proposed salary increase from $106,000 to $200,000. The proposed salary raises would take effect starting July 1. However, some Senators have put forward the suggestion that it may be more appropriate to implement these changes when officials commence new terms following the 2026 elections. Notably, Lieutenant Governor Jones mentioned that, if the salary hike is approved, he would choose to return the difference back to the state treasury. In his immediate reaction after the amendment passed, he remarked, “Those things need to be vetted better than that.” Meanwhile, Secretary Raffensperger has not commented on the matter, and Attorney General Carr’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.