The Latest: Kemp congratulates Abrams, says he’s moving on

ATLANTA – The Latest the campaign for Georgia governor (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

Republican Brian Kemp is congratulating Democrat Stacey Abrams on a hard-fought campaign for Georgia governor, but says it’s time to put the race behind him and focus on leading the state.

Kemp held a news conference Saturday, the day after Abrams acknowledged her GOP opponent had won. She refused to concede, however, and accused Kemp of “gross mismanagement” in overseeing the election as Georgia’s secretary of state. She said she plans to file a federal lawsuit challenging the way Georgia administers elections.

Kemp struck a more conciliatory tone toward Abrams, saying she “ran one heck of a campaign and I know she can be proud of that effort.”

Kemp also defended his victory. He said: “Look, we have laws on the books that prevent elections from being stolen from anyone.”

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9:24 a.m.

Democrat Stacey Abrams has ended 10 days of post-election drama in Georgia’s closely watched race for governor.

In a Friday speech, she acknowledged Republican Brian Kemp as the victor while refusing to concede to the man she blamed for “gross mismanagement” of the election.

Abram’s speech marked the close of the 44-year-old attorney and former lawmaker’s attempt to make history as America’s first black woman governor. Her campaign insisting that efforts to suppress turnout left thousands of ballots uncounted.

Kemp is the 55-year-old businessman who oversaw the election as Georgia’s secretary of state. He will keep the governor’s office in GOP hands as the state’s third Republican governor since Reconstruction. He responded to Abrams ending her campaign by calling for unity.