Georgia governor candidates set for October town-hall debate amid tight race

Republican candidate Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms have confirmed participation in a live, town-hall style debate scheduled for Oct. 6 in Atlanta. Atlanta News First will broadcast the hour-long showdown, with anchor Rick Folbaum moderating and 30-minute pre- and post-show segments framing the discussion. Production will be handled by Assembly Studios, and the format is intended to address the concerns of metro-Atlanta families directly.

While Bottoms is also slated to appear in five additional debates in Macon, Savannah and other locations, Jackson’s spokesperson Garrison Douglas has framed the push for more forums as evidence of Bottoms’s campaign desperation. A Quantus Insights poll from early August placed Bottoms ahead by about four points, and both candidates are emphasizing affordability while sparring over public-safety policies.