Campaign contributions to top candidates raise questions

ATLANTA (AP) - A newspaper’s analysis of campaign contributions to the two Republican candidates vying to become Georgia’s next governor details donations that critics say raise ethical questions for both state officials.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found donations of more than $325,000 to Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s campaign from people tied to licensees and companies regulated by his office. The newspaper found contributions of more than $240,000 to Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s campaign before the beginning of the 2018 legislative session from lobbyists, members of their family or their firms.

Kemp and Cagle are locked in a contentious runoff for the Republican nomination for governor that will be decided July 24.

Kemp and Cagle’s campaigns both denied doing anything wrong. They said the donations have not influenced how the candidates do their jobs.

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