Georgia political candidates to participate in statewide debates

Candidates in Georgia’s upcoming elections will participate in a series of televised face-to-face debates hosted by WANF and Gray Media. The gubernatorial debate is scheduled for October 6 at 8 p.m., followed by a U.S. Senate debate on October 8 at 7 p.m. The Senate contest features incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger Mike Collins, while the governor's race pits Republican businessman Rick Jackson against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

In the gubernatorial race, recent polling shows Jackson edging out Bottoms. Jackson has utilized campaign advertisements to criticize Bottoms’ 2021 decision not to seek a second term as mayor of Atlanta, framing her departure as an abandonment of the city during difficult times. Bottoms has defended her decision as a personal choice driven by family considerations and health, noting her accomplishments during her tenure, such as balancing the budget and establishing an affordable housing trust fund.