ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The gubernatorial town hall debate between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson was held Tuesday night on Atlanta News First.
Below is the full transcript from the debate:
Rick Folbaum: Tonight, with just days until early voting begins, the first and likely only meeting of the two candidates fighting to become Georgia’s 84th governor on the debate stage, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson. We’re broadcasting live across the state of Georgia from Gray Media-owned Assembly Studios in Doraville, DeKalb County. Good evening. I’m Rick Folbaum, the moderator for tonight’s town hall-style debate. The questions asked during tonight’s debate will come from real Georgia voters, both here in the debate hall and via pre-recorded video. They’re voters who say they remain undecided or open to changing their mind about who to vote for in this very important race. Tonight’s broadcast will run 60 minutes with four 15-minute segments. In order to have a thoughtful and civil debate, these are the rules that both campaigns have agreed to. Voters will have 30 seconds to ask a question for both candidates to answer. Candidates will have 60 seconds to respond to those questions, with 30 seconds allowed for rebuttals at my discretion. Candidates are not allowed to ask questions of each other, but they will each be allowed a 60-second opening statement. There won’t be any closing statements. You can read the debate rules in full by logging on to atlantanewsfirst.com slash debate. It will be my job to enforce the rules. Just before the start of tonight’s debate, we flipped a coin to see which candidate would go first. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, please begin with your opening statement.
Keisha Lance Bottoms: I grew up in a loving family where life wasn’t always easy, but I was always reminded that with faith and hard work, all things are possible. As a wife and mother of four, I still believe that, and I believe Georgia’s best days are ahead. Georgia is a work in progress, and we’ve got a lot of work to do, but we have the power to make Georgia more affordable, to protect a woman’s right to choose, to protect our voting rights, to protect our communities from out-of-control data center growth, to make sure every child has the opportunity to reach their God-given potential, and to make sure we are protected from the harmful policies of Donald Trump. What we do in this moment will echo through history, so let’s choose hope over fear, progress over division, and come together to build a better Georgia for everyone. While my opponent is running to enrich himself and be Trump’s favorite governor, I want to be yours, Georgia, and I hope to earn your vote.
Rick Folbaum: Mr. Rick Jackson, your opening statement, please…