The state of Georgia may have a larger influence in the 2016 presidential election than in prior elections if Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has his way.

Kemp, addressing a group of 26 people at the Madison Forum’s Monday luncheon at Rib Ranch Restaurant, discussed the state’s progress in the campaign for an “SEC Primary,” a regional primary specifically for southern states with southeastern conference schools to increase the South’s influence in presidential elections.

“Things are coming together fairly well,” Kemp said. “Regardless of what happens, we have gotten some great press about our SEC primary idea. The sole reason I came up with this idea is to try to have more of us go first. That will give us a little more say (in the election). The problem in the past is that the race would already be over when it got to us, or we’re

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