Brad Raffensperger, 70, is Georgia's Secretary of State (elected 2018, reelected 2022) and a wealthy engineering entrepreneur. He earned a civil engineering degree from Western University and an MBA from Georgia State University. Raffensperger is the founder and former CEO of Tendon Systems, LLC, a concrete reinforcement company he sold in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. He is known nationally for refusing President Trump's January 2021 call to 'find 11,780 votes' to overturn Biden's Georgia victory. Raffensperger is running as the moderate/establishment Republican alternative, though he faces Trump's hostility.
Raffensperger was born in Michigan and moved to Georgia in 1978 with his family. He earned a civil engineering degree from Western University and an MBA from Georgia State University. He built successful construction and manufacturing companies before selling Tendon Systems in 2023. He entered politics in his 50s, starting with a suburban city council seat, advancing to the state legislature, and winning election as Secretary of State in 2018 and reelection in 2022. He was appointed to his first Secretary of State role in 2010 by Governor Sonny Perdue.