Politics

Ga. Governor Candidates Kemp And Abrams To Meet For Debate

October 23rd, 2018

Republican Brian Kemp, Democrat Stacey Abrams and Libertarian Ted Metz will be participating in the debate Tuesday evening, ahead of the Nov. 6 election. The Georgia governor’s race is gaining national attention.

David Goldman / Associated Press file

The candidates in a neck-and-neck battle for Georgia governor are set to meet in their first debate Tuesday evening in Atlanta.

Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia’s secretary of state, faces Democratic former state House minority leader Stacey Abrams. Libertarian candidate Ted Metz also is participating.

Abrams is vying to be the first black female governor of any state. Kemp is trying to maintain the governor’s mansion for Republicans.

The race is being watched nationally as a barometer for the Democrats’ success in the Nov. 6 elections.

Kemp has portrayed Abrams as “too extreme for Georgia” and rails against funding she gets from “California and New York.”

Abrams has painted Kemp as an incompetent chief elections officer who has been intent on suppressing minority voters.

The debate will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting at 7 p.m. as part of the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.

Other debates will take place throughout the day, including debates for Georgia’s 6th and 7th Congressional District races at 4:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. respectively. They can be viewed online here.