ATLANTA, GA — Georgia’s race for governor is heating up as Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms calls for a series of debates against Republican nominee Rick Jackson ahead of the November election.
Bottoms announced that she has accepted invitations to participate in six televised debates across Georgia, arguing that voters should have several opportunities to hear directly from the two candidates about their plans for the state.
The proposed debates would take place in several cities, including Atlanta, Macon and Savannah. Bottoms has agreed to appearances scheduled for Sept. 17 in Macon, Sept. 22 in Atlanta, Oct. 6 in Atlanta, Oct. 12 in Atlanta and Oct. 13 in Savannah, along with a proposed CNN debate in Atlanta that does not yet have a confirmed date.
So far, the Oct. 6 Atlanta News First town hall is the only debate confirmed between both candidates. The one-hour event will take place at Assembly Studios in Atlanta and will feature questions from undecided Georgia voters.
Jackson’s campaign pushed back against Bottoms’ challenge, arguing that her recent push for multiple debates is politically motivated. His campaign also noted that Jackson had already committed to the Oct. 6 event.
The debate dispute comes as both candidates prepare for a closely watched general election. Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and former White House senior adviser, secured the Democratic nomination in May without needing a runoff. Jackson, a healthcare executive, captured the Republican nomination after defeating Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP runoff.
With Election Day set for Nov. 3, the upcoming debates could provide Georgia voters with some of their biggest opportunities to compare the candidates directly as the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp enters its final months.
(Photo by Nykieria Chaney/Getty Images)
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