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Stacey Abrams says she can't win Georgia Gov. race; ends challenge to Brian Kemp

Democrat Stacey Abrams says she can't win Georgia governor race, effectively ending her challenge to Republican Brian Kemp.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. Friday | ATLANTA (AP) - Democrat Stacey Abrams says she can't win Georgia governor race, effectively ending her challenge to Republican Brian Kemp.

Republican Brian Kemp had already declared himself the winner, but his opponent Stacey Abrams was still fighting for every vote to be counted.

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The race for Georgia's next governor could be decided by the end of the day.

Stacey Abrams is expected to speak at 5 p.m.

Republican Brian Kemp has already declared himself the winner, but his opponent Stacey Abrams is still fighting for every vote to be counted.

RELATED: Georgia governor race: Federal judge rules state must wait to certify election

Counties have certified their election results and Kemp's lead is still large enough to avoid a runoff. It's now up to the Secretary of State's Office to make it official.

Robyn Crittenden is the interim Secretary of State. She took the position after Kemp stepped down last week. It will be her office's job to certify the votes.

Gwinnett County was one of the last to turn in numbers Thursday. The county's Board of Elections added nearly 500 votes to the county’s November election total before certifying them - actions made in compliance with a federal court order.

RELATED: Kemp-Abrams feud highlights new landscape in divided Georgia

The candidates both had votes added, but Kemp is still in the lead.

The Secretary of State's Office shows Abrams with 48.83 percent of the votes, which equals 1,923,582. Kemp has a total of 1,978,383 votes, which gives him 50.22 percent.

Libertarian Ted Metz has less than 1 percent of the votes.

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