Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms took the debate stage Monday without her Republican opponent, answering questions at an empty podium on the eve of early voting in the Peach State.
“Rick Jackson is the first gubernatorial candidate in 32 years not standing here,” Bottoms said in his opening remarks. “He would rather hide behind his billions than explain to you his record of making billions from Georgia taxpayers.”
The debate lasted less than 30 minutes, with two reporters asking questions of Bottoms, who appeared alone after Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson declined to participate.
Jackson’s campaign said he had a scheduling conflict and was campaigning in the Savannah area, WSB-TV reported. The Republican visited Georgia on Monday, visiting Atlanta, Macon, Columbus and Savannah before heading to Columbiana County.
Asked about his decision not to participate in the debate, Jackson told reporters on Monday, “Out of about 10,000 people I’ve spoken to, no one has mentioned anything about the debate because it’s not important to people.”
newsweek CNN reached out to the Jackson and Bottoms campaigns for comment Monday night.
The two candidates previously debated at a town hall hosted by News First Atlanta on October 6 and answered questions from undecided voters across Georgia on a range of issues. Based on the description, the town hall may be their only debate.
Monday’s event was part of the Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.
Why Georgia governor’s race matters
The race for the governor’s mansion in the Peach State is getting fierce as candidates compete to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
Jackson, the founder of medical staffing company Jackson Healthcare, has positioned himself as a political outsider.
Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later served as a senior adviser to former President Joe Biden.
Jackson currently leads Bottoms 49 percent to 47 percent, according to the Decision Desk Headquarters poll average.
A recent YouGov poll also found a tight race, with Jackson on 45% support and Bolton on 44%. Nine percent of respondents were undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
The competition also has historical significance. If Bottoms wins, she will become the first black woman to serve as governor in the United States.
Jackson has repeatedly criticized Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor. “Kesha nearly destroyed Atlanta,” Jackson wrote on Monday. “We’re not going to let her destroy Georgia, but only if you vote.”
President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a midterm campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday to campaign for Jackson and Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins, as Republicans seek to retain control of the governor’s office and defend their Senate majority.
Early voting begins in Georgia on Tuesday ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
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