One hour to decide Georgia? Governor’s race debate could help settle election – Atlanta News First

One hour to decide Georgia? Governor’s race debate could help settle election  Atlanta News First

On Oct. 6, Atlanta News First will host the only face-to-face debate between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms. ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The question: Could a one-hour debate between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms — the Republican and Democrat candidates for Georgia governor, respectively —help decide the race? On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Atlanta News First will host a face-to-face debate between the two at 8 p.m. Televised on Gray Media stations across Georgia and livestreamed, the event will include a modified town hall session where undecided voters can directly ask the candidates their most pressing questions. MORE DETAILS: Atlanta News First to host gubernatorial town hall debate between Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson So far, Jackson, the billionaire owner of Jackson Healthcare who made a massive splash after entering the race relatively late, and Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor and senior adviser to then-President Joe Biden, have only exchanged jabs in attack ads.

One hour doesn’t seem like a long time, but the event will be the first time Georgians see the two spar face-to-face. And with razor-thin polling margins, what they say may be the deciding factor for uncertain voters, who will likely settle the race. Most polls conducted so far agree: While Jackson usually leads by a percentage point or two, the governor’s race