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In their first debate rematch since 2018, Georgia candidates for governor Stacey Abrams and Gov. Brian Kemp highlighted their campaign messages and drew sharp contrasts with their opponents.
Much of the conversation focused on crime, the 2020 pandemic and election, and education. Noticeably missing from the debate were questions and answers about the economy – a big omission in a state where Atlanta has the second-highest inflation rate in the nation.
The debate was held at the Atlanta Press Club on the first day of Georgia’s early voting period.
Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Libertarian candidate Shane Hazel faced questions on everything from cannabis to guns in one of the most closely-watched gubernatorial races in the country.
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The first question of the night went to Abrams, who explained why she burned a state flag during a 1992 protest.
Kemp, who is vying for his second term, defeated Abrams in 2018. He defeated Trump-backed challenger former U.S. senator David Perdue in this year’s Republican primary after the former president unleashed insults and personal attacks against him. Kemp touted his record as governor, particularly his investment in public education.
Abrams painted a gloomier picture of Georgia, where she said people of color have been left behind by Republican leaders.
And Hazel called to eliminate public education and urged more support of legalizing marijuana.
Midterms:In the tight race for Georgia governor, Black men emerge as Stacey Abrams’ key voters
Kemp says Abrams is ‘upset and mad’
In what some observers are calling racist stereotypes, Gov. Brian Kemp described his Democratic challenger Stacy Abrams as “upset and mad” during a segment on law enforcement.
We know that these are racist and sexist attacks targeted at Black women. We have seen this time and time again. It’s gross and inappropriate, and we will not allow it.”
Abrams said Kemp was lying about her feelings about law enforcement, which she said she has publicly supported for 11 years. She then told a personal story about her two brothers – one who has committed crimes and one who has been pulled over for driving while Black.
“Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury of relying on slogans to describe my position on public safety. I believe that we need safety and justice because I love both of my brothers,” she said.
— Candy Woodall
Abrams, Kemp show contrasts on gun laws
Making the midterms about crime and safety has been a hallmark of national Republican campaigns this year, but it was Abrams on Monday night who painted Kemp as soft on crime.
“We have a governor who’s weakened gun laws across our [state], flooded our streets with guns by letting dangerous people get access to the weapons,” Abrams said.
She supports universal background checks and waiting periods for purchasers.
“The largest, fastest growing segment of the population buying handguns and firearms are African Americans and females. You know why? Because criminals are the ones that do have the guns,” Kemp said in response.
Abrams retorted: “We can protect the Second Amendment and second graders at the same time.”
— Candy Woodall
Middle ground?:Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams take aim at centrist vote at Savannah conference. But who will win it?
Kemp is “so optimistic” about Georgia’s future, asks for voters’ support
In his closing remarks, Kemp reiterated his 2018 promise to work hard for Georgians whether they voted for him or not before highlighting the state’s low unemployment rate during his closing remarks.
Kemp also took a shot at Abrams, claiming that she said Georgia was “the worst state” to live in saying he disagreed.
“We think Georgia’s the greatest state in the country to live, work and raise our children,” Kemp said. “And that’s why I’m asking for your vote and support to keep it that way.”
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
What happened:Gov. Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams meet in first Georgia gubernatorial debate
Abrams says she ‘wants more’ for Georgians
In her closing remarks, Abrams highlighted Gov Kemp’s campaign promises that she said have been broken during his term as governor, citing increased crime, rising prices and the lack of Medicaid expansion.
Abrams said she wants Georgians to have more money, more protections in their lives and more freedom and more opportunity.
“I see all of Georgia and as the next governor, it would be my intention to serve all of Georgia,” she said.
— Rachel Looker
“We can protect the 2nd Amendment and second-graders,” Abrams rebuts Kemp on guns
Abrams replied to Kemp on guns, saying that more Georgians are buying guns because they they think it’s the only way to protect themselves since “guns have flooded our streets.”
‘These are communities that want to be safe. They don’t want to have to carry weapons,” Abrams said before noting that because of legislation signed by Kemp background checks are no longer required in the state.
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Fact check:Post online about Stacey Abrams’ 2018 run for Georgia governor is partly false
Abrams shares strategy on retaining teachers
When asked about how she would recruit and retain educators for schools, Abrams said many teachers would not recommend teaching to colleagues because of low pay, overregulation and high stress as well as teaching to curriculums that do not reflect the values and needs of students.
As governor, Abrams said she would repeal these laws, increase pay and make certain that all teachers are well protected.
— Rachel Looker
Kemp is the “most dangerous thing” Georgia faces, Abrams says
Abrams listed several issues currently facing Georgia voters, including the increasing rates of gang crime, gun violence and housing costs, before turning to say another term by Kemp is the most dangerous thing the state faces.
“We live in a state of fear,” Abrams said. “And this is a governor who for the last four years beat his chest and delivered very little for most Georgians,” adding that Kemp has weakened gun safety laws and denied women the right to reproductive care.
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Kemp explains strategy to reduce gun-related crimes
Kemp was asked about gun violence and what he plans to do to address gun-related crimes if re-elected.
Kemp responded by saying he is going after the people who are committing gun-related crimes, specifically referring to street gangs.
He said kids need to need to return to the classroom during the pandemic to stay involved in extracurricular activities and avoid being recruited by street gangs.
He referenced his new public safety plan, which he said includes stiffening penalties for gang members recruiting children.
— Rachel Looker
Kemp on U.S. Senate election loss
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said he did not regret appointing Kelly Loeffler, the Republican who lost the 2020 U.S. Senate election.
Instead, he blamed the party’s ground game and turnout.
The loss helped Democrats win control of the Senate.
— Candy Woodall
Abrams aims to invest Georgia’s $6.6 billion surplus in education
The Democrat said she wants to use the state’s $6.6 billion surplus it has after it “pays every bill” toward giving teachers an $11,000 pay raise and increasing pre-school slots.
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Abrams talks reaching across the aisle
Abrams, who served in the state legislature for 11 years, was asked about how she plans to advance her policies with a highly likely state legislature in Republican control.
Abrams said she does not believe there is staunch Republican opposition and emphasized how she worked across the aisle every day in the state legislature to get things done and find solutions with her Republican colleagues.
“We need a governor who can do the math, but also do the morality of making sure we take care of every single Georgian,” she said.
— Rachel Looker
Kemp talks education
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp touted his record on education, particularly the $5,000 bonus he gave to public school teachers.
The bonus was paid for by the state budget surplus.
He is also pushing to spend $65 million to address pandemic learning loss.
— Candy Woodall
Abrams asks Hazel about the Chinese Communist Party
Abrams asked Hazel whether he would be concerned with the national security implications with members of the Chinese Communist Party purchasing Georgia land with support of the state.
Hazel told Abrams that Libertarians believe that “we own our property, and the state can’t take it away from you and can’t sell it.”
Abrams says that the state working with the Chinese Communist Party should be a concern.
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Abrams responds to 1992 flag burning
In the first question of the night, Stacy Abrams was asked about a 1992 protest she participated in where the state flag was burned.
The state flag, at the time, included the Confederate symbol.
As a college freshman 26 years ago, Abrams said she was “deeply disturbed by the racial divisiveness” the Confederate symbol represented. she said.
“I took an action of peaceful protest. I said that was wrong, and 10 years later my opponent Brian Kemp voted to remove that symbol,” Abrams said.
— Candy Woodall
Abrams questions Kemp on gap for minority-owned businesses
Abrams questioned Kemp on how minorities only generate a fraction of business in Georgia and how he plans to decrease and address the racial equity gap for minority-owned businesses.
Kemp responded that the first part of his plan was keeping Georgia open for business and pushed for students to be back in classrooms, adding that working class Americans and minority groups are unable to work if their children are not in the classroom.
— Rachel Looker
Kemp highlights his efforts to provide Georgians’ health care
Kemp said hospitals are being built and instead of “complaining about it” he worked with Georgia counties and Democrats to ensure state resources provided Georgian access to the health care necessary.
“I am committed to continuing to do that in the future,” Kemp said.
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Hazel said running as a libertarian is returning to his roots
Hazel said he came back to his roots when he determined to run as a libertarian.
“If people were really looking for something to change then you’d vote libertarian,” he said.
— Rachel Looker
Kemp tells Georgia voters: “I have been doing exactly what I told ‘em”
Kemp took a moment to remind Georgians that he’s “been doing exactly what I told ‘em I would do when I was campaigning for governor” during his rebuttal time after Hazel spoke on the legalization of cannabis.
The governor spoke on law enforcement’s efforts of “drug busts” by gangs and street cartels before an interjection by Hazel, saying cannabis is a “plant.”
— Sarah Elbeshbishi
Abrams says she will accept election results
Abrams was asked if she would accept the results of the election this year.
She responded by saying she acknowledged Kemp won the election in 2018 and emphasized the challenges voters faced in the past election.
Abrams said she will stand up for the right to vote as governor and will acknowledge the outcome of elections.
— Rachel Looker
When is the debate?
The debate will air live at 7 p.m. E.T.
Where can you watch it?
The debate will be streamed on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page.
‘Voting is too dumb’:Roe is gone, student debt is piling up and young people are mad. But will they vote?
What are the key issues?
Both candidates are expected to tackle key issues in the battleground state related to voting, abortion, gun laws and the high cost of living.
Abrams opposes a number of laws Kemp has signed into law since becoming governor.
Kemp signed two bills that Abrams has promised to repeal if elected– one preventing abortions after six weeks and the other allowing concealed firearms without permits,
Kemp also signed a controversial law related to voting procedures after the 2020 presidential election. Abrams said the law was an attempt to “suppress the vote and seize electoral power.”
In recent polling, Georgia voters listed the cost of living as a top issue. Abrams has released a strategy that addresses housing costs, tax incentives for affordable housing and allocating more funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Kemp’s plan focuses on tax relief to reduce the overall cost of living.
More:Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams take the stage for debate Monday in Georgia governor’s race
— Rachel Looker
Where do the candidates stand in recent polling?
Polling shows Kemp is leading in the two candidates’ rematch.
A recent Atlanta-Journal Constitution/Georgia News Collaborative poll found Kemp is ahead by double digits.
Other polls show similar results. A FiveThirtyEight survey has Kemp leading by eight points as of Oct. 11.
— Rachel Looker
How much have the campaigns raised?
Abrams outraised Kemp in the third quarter by over $7 million between July and the end of September.
Abrams had $11 million on hand while Kemp had over $15.4 million heading into October.
Both candidates have seen a significant number of donations given Georgia’s battleground state status.
— Rachel Looker
Who is Brian Kemp?
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is vying for his second term in office. He defeated Trump-backed candidate David Perdue, a former U.S. Senator, in the primaries.
During his time as governor, Kemp signed legislation for a federal waiver to bypass the Affordable Care Act website, proposed a limited Medicaid expansion, attracted several major manufacturing facilities to Georgia, signed several bills that he says will support small businesses, delivered on a pay increase for teachers and signed a law preventing the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts” in schools.
The Republican governor has received backlash from former President Trump by refusing to help him overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
— Rachel Looker
Also debating Monday night:Showdown in Youngstown: Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan face off in debate
Who is Stacey Abrams?
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams rose to the national spotlight following her 2018 run for the governorship of Georgia.
Since then she’s been known for her work with get-out-the-vote organizations. She has been credited with registering 800,000 new Georgia voters ahead of the last presidential election.
Abrams works with FairFight Action, a political action committee that focuses on voting rights. The committee raised nearly $90 million in 2020.
If elected, Abrams will serve as the nation’s first Black woman governor.
— Rachel Looker
Who is Shane Hazel?
Shane Hazel is a libertarian gubernatorial candidate in Georgia governor’s race.
Hazel’s campaign focuses on eliminating income and property taxes, legalizing cannabis, repealing and nullifying as many gun laws as possible, bringing more nuclear power to Georgia, privatizing the health industry to include charities and adopting Bitcoin as legal tender.
— Rachel Looker
Black men emerge as Stacey Abrams’ key voters
Abrams has trailed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for much of the 2022 campaign. If she hopes to prevail in her much-anticipated rematch, she’ll need to improve upon the coalition of first-time voters, young voters and Black voters she put together last time.
So far, though, not only has she not gained ground among Black voters, she’s significantly behind where she was in 2018.
In the closing weeks of the campaign, the Abrams campaign has been upfront that it needs to shore up support with Black voters overall. Her team provided USA TODAY with internal polling showing Abrams within 2 points of Kemp, at 46% and 48% respectively, closer than earlier public surveys. That’s also within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3.1percentage points.
Within those figures, Abrams holds a commanding 85%-to-9% lead over Kemp among Black voters. But that is 10 percentage points lower for her than in 2018.
— Mabinty Quarshie and Phillip Bailey
Read the whole story here:In the tight race for Georgia governor, Black men emerge as Stacey Abrams’ key voters
Early voting gets underway in the 2022 Georgia midterm election
Early in-person voting opened Monday, Oct. 17, and many of those who requested absentee ballots now have them in hand.
Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming were the first states to cast ballots on Sept. 23; Wyoming and Michigan allowed voters in their state to vote early by absentee ballot starting last month. Oklahoma and Kentucky don’t allow early in-person votes until November. The majority of states begin their early voting in October.
Savannah Morning News staffers have provided comprehensive coverage of the election going back to the primaries.
— Savannah Morning News staff
Read the rest here:Early voting gets underway in the 2022 Georgia midterm election
Georgia Senate race also a key election
Kemp and Abrams are debating Monday night, but last Friday the debaters were another pair of Georgia candidates: Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
The two clashed over abortion, voting rights and more —including personal issues — during the first and only debate in the Georgia Senate race.
Georgia is home to one of the most competitive Senate contests of the 2022 cycle, which could determine who controls the 50-50 split chamber next year.
As of late, the race has been consumed by allegations that Walker, a former NFL star, paid an ex-girlfriend to terminate a pregnancy over a decade ago.
The 60-year-old GOP contender, who opposes abortion, has vehemently denied that he gave the unnamed woman any money for the procedure.
— Phillip Bailey
Takeaways:In sole Ga. Senate debate, Walker and Warnock spar on everything from policy to personal issues
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