HELLO, GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

I AM LISA RAMM, HOST OF POLITICAL BREAKFAST AND MORNING EDITION IN ATLANTA.

WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB.

THIS IS A DEBATE AMONG DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

CAROLYN BOURDEAUX IF THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 7.

LUCY McBATH IS THE U.S. HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 6.

AND DONNA McLEOD IS A GEORGIA STATE PREVENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 105.

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

TIA MITCHELL IS A WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ATLANTIC JOURNAL AND KURT GILLIS IS A REPORTER COVERING GOVERNMENT.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S DEBATE, PLEASE VISIT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB WEBSITE.

TO START, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION BY ONE OF THE PANELISTS.

PANELISTS HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

TIA MITCHELL, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION THE DONNA McLEOD.

>> PART OF YOUR PITCH IS THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE RACE WHO CURRENTLY LIVES WITHIN THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

CAN YOU ANSWER WHY SHOULD YOUR ADDRESS TRUMP REPRESENTATIVE McBATH AND A BOURDEAUX EXPERIENCE REPRESENTING METRO ATLANTA IN WASHINGTON?

>> THANK YOU, TIA.

WELL, I HAVE CONGRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE DISTRICT FOR 22 YEARS, MOST PEOPLE DID NOT EVEN WANT TO RECOGNIZE GWINNETT COUNTY AS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTY.

I HAVE REGISTERED OVER 30,000 PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO GET EARLY VOTING, I WAS AT THE TABLE PUSHING FOR THAT.

I GOT EXTENDED VOTING, I HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK IN THE DISTRICT.

I AM NOT JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE OF THESE LADIES, I AM DOING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT I HAVE LIVED IN FOR 22 YEARS BECAUSE I KNOW THE DISTRICT AND THE DISTRICT KNOWS ME.

AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK.

PERIOD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOURDEAUX, YOU HAVE FACED SOME CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATS, MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WHEN PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH DURING YOUR TIME SO FAR.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO PEOPLE WHO SAY YOU HAVE BEEN TO CENTRIST AND NOT SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH OF THE BIDEN AGENDA?

AND ALSO, IF YOU ARE REELECTED, WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION YOU WOULD PUSH?

>> THERE IS A LOT IN THAT QUESTION, BUT LET ME START OUT WITH WHAT I DO IS I GROUND EVERYTHING IN THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM.

ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS TRYING TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN GEORGIA, I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION WITH SENATOR WARNOCK TO DO THAT.

30,000 PEOPLE WOULD GET HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT IF WE DID THAT.

WE ALSO NEED INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSIT, WASTEWATER, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE BARRIER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT FOR JOBS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

I WOULD SAY THE MOST AGGRESSIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION I SIGNED LAST YEAR, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK ON IS LEGISLATION TO STUDY REPARATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

TIA, YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> REPRESENTATIVE McBATH I WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE THE INCUMBENT BUT THE CURRENT DISTRICT 7 --I AM A LITTLE BIT DISTRACTED, SORRY --DISTRICT 7 ONLY INCLUDES A SWATCH OF WHAT WAS YOUR PREVIOUS DISTRICT.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO CONCERNS THAT WE ARE HEARING THAT YOU ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY AND PERSONAL STORY, AND NOT FOCUSED ENOUGH ON THE DISTRICT YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPRESENT?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CRITICISM?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN MY SON WAS MURDERED, I MADE A PROMISE TO HIM AND PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, THAT WHATEVER I COULD DO IN WASHINGTON I WOULD DO TO MAKE SURE I KEPT THEM SAFE FROM UNNECESSARY GUN VIOLENCE.

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.

LOWERING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

MAKING SURE WE ARE CARING FOR VETERANS.

AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION THEY CAN GET.

AND I HAVE TO HONESTLY SAY, I AM REALLY PROUD TO BE THE FRONT- RUNNER IN THIS RACE.

PEOPLE KNOW ME, THEY KNOW THE WORK I HAVE DONE.

THEY KNOW I HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THEIR BEHALF IN WASHINGTON.

I AM RUNNING IN THIS RACE BECAUSE I SIMPLY BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE GOVERNOR OR THE GUN LOBBY TO DICTATE WHO REPRESENTS OUR COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON.

THAT IS YOU, THE GEORGIA RESIDENTS.

YOU SHOULD BE MAKING THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM REPRESENTING YOUR INTEREST IN WASHINGTON AND I ALWAYS HAVE.

>> THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW ASK A QUESTION TO THE OPPONENT OF THEIR CHOICE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS.

60 SECONDS TO RESPOND AND THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKS THE QUESTION WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

BY RANDOM SELECTION, LUCY McBATH, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST.

>> I'D LIKE TO ASK THIS QUESTION OF REPRESENTATIVE BOURDEAUX.

YOU --CAN YOU TELL US, YOU HAVE NEVER REALLY SAID WHICH OF THE PRESIDENTS OBAMA'S OPPONENTS THAT YOU VOTED FOR IN THE 2012 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

ARE YOU WILLING TO TELL US NOW?

>> THAT IS AN OLD STORY THAT WAS IN THE PRIMARY.

AND OBAMA DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPONENT IN THE PRIMARY.

JOHN LEWIS WAS THE OTHER PERSON ON THE BALLOT WHERE I WAS VOTING.

THAT WAS JUST AN EFFORT TO BEAT BACK THE CRAZY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SO I DID AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO RACE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE BUT IT WAS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I HAVE TO SAY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT WOULD DO THAT KIND OF STRATEGIC VOTING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS REALLY BRING PEOPLE INTO THE FOLD IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.

AND THE PRIMARY IN 2020, 85,000 PEOPLE VOTED, 50% HAD NEVER VOTED BEFORE.

AND WHEN I PUSH IT OVER THE LINE, I WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE COUNTRY TO FLIP A SEAT.

BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO ALL PEOPLE ACROSS PARTY LINES AND BRING TOGETHER A COALITION THAT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR FLIPPING THE DISTRICT AND GEORGIA.

>> PRESIDENT OBAMA WASN'T THE ONLY DEMOCRAT THAT YOU DIDN'T SUPPORT.

IN 2012, JOHN LEWIS FACED A PRIMARY OPPONENT AND INSTEAD OF VOTING FOR JOHN LEWIS, YOU CHOSE TO VOTE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

AT A TIME WHEN VOTING RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAVER.

FOR WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE LITERALLY A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.

AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IT.

I PROMISE THAT I WILL NEVER SACRIFICE OUR VALUES, BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE SIMPLY TOO HIGH.

>> THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU.

NOW, DONNA McLEOD, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS FOR REPRESENTATIVE McBATH.

YOU JUST DECLARED THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

AND YOUR MAILERS AND COMMERCIALS CLEARLY DOESN'T STATE THAT.

IT SEEMS TO ME YOU ARE DECEIVING THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

CAN YOU PLEASE LET THEM KNOW IF YOU ARE PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH THEM?

SO NEC WILL DO FOR YOU?

>> MY SON, JORDAN, WAS BORN HERE, RAISED HERE, HE WENT TO SCHOOL HERE AND HE IS BURIED HERE.

MY STORY, PEOPLE KNOW ME, THEY KNOW HOW HARD I HAVE WORKED ON THEIR BEHALF IN WASHINGTON AND I AM VERY PROUD TO BE THE FRONT- RUNNER IN THIS ELECTION BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN TRUST ME.

I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE SINCE MY SON WAS MURDERED, EVERY SINGLE DAY WAKING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THOSE POLICIES AND SUPPORT THOSE POLICIES.

TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT VOTING FOR THOSE POLICIES SOMETIMES IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.

>> CAN I HAVE A REBUTTAL?

ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN EMPATHIZE WITH YOU FOR JORDAN'S DEATH.

AT THE SEVENTH DISTRICT IS THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN THE STATE, AND DESERVES A VOICE THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS.

I DON'T SEE WHY WE SHOULD GIVE ANOTHER ONE WHO DOESN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE GO THROUGH.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THAT THEY LIVE IN THE DISTRICT THEY ARE SERVING.

WE HAVE TO BE ABOUT OUR REPUBLIC AND REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

YOU CAN'T SIT IN ANY SEAT ANY TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SERVE.

THANK YOU.

>> CAROLYN BOURDEAUX, YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION THIS ROUND.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN TRANSIT McBATH, IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT THE FRONT-RUNNER IS RICH McCORMICK THE ONE I BEAT IN 2020.

HE HAS A PERFECT SCORE WITH THE NRA, AND DOESN'T THINK WOMEN THEY ARE GOING TO DIE IN CHILDBIRTH.

HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR CHOICE, FOR GUN SAFETY REFORM, WHEN YOU ARE HANDING YOUR SEAT IN CONGRESS TO REPUBLICANS LIKE HIM?

>> AS I SAID BEFORE, I AM VERY PROUD TO BE THE FRONT-RUNNER IN THIS RACE BECAUSE PEOPLE DO KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW THAT I HAVE FOUGHT ON THEIR BEHALF IN WASHINGTON FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY KNOW I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE BEEN STANDING ON THE FRONT LINE FOR MY GOOD FRIEND JOHN LEWIS IS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

I HAVE REDUCED THE COST OF DRUGS BY A BILL THAT I HAVE JUST PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

LOWERING THE COST FOR INSULIN FOR THOSE SUFFERERS OF DIABETES.

I HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT DEFRAUDED BY FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS, AND WHEN THE GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOL NEEDED HELP, I WAS ABLE TO ATTRIBUTE TEACHERS WERE PAID, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAD ACCESS TO SCHOOL LUNCHES AND SUMMER SCHOOL.

I HAVE DONE THE WORK, I HAVE BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, WHETHER IT IS IN SCHOOLS OR BUSINESSES.

PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON ME BECAUSE I HAVE DELIVERED FOR THEM.

>> LET'S JUST BE CLEAR, SOME OF THOSE BILLS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE BACK GROUND CHECKS AND OTHER GUN SAFETY REFORM, LOWERING THE PRICE OF INSULIN, THOSE HAVEN'T PASSED.

THEY PASSED THE HOUSE BUT NOT THE SENATE.

WHAT YOU ARE DOING BY LEAVING YOUR SEAT IS HANDING THE REPUBLICANS A SEAT.

HANDING THE NRA A SEAT AND ALLOWING KEVIN McCARTHY TO BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING SPEAKER.

EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, YOU ARE UNDERMINING BY LEAVING AND FIGHTING >> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REMARKS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS THE DEBATE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE KENNEL --PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS.

I MAY ALSO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

I WILL DETERMINE WHEN A REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> THIS WILL BE FOR ALL THREE OF YOU.

PRECLEARANCE WAS TAKEN AWAY IN 2012, WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE FIRST REDISTRICTING WITHOUT THAT.

IF YOU GUYS ARE ELECTED, WOULD YOU REINSTATE PRECLEARANCE AND HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?

THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR A BILL.

HOW WOULD YOU PROTECT IT FROM A COURT CHALLENGE THAT MY TAKE IT AWAY?

I WILL MAKE IT SIMPLE AND GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

START WITH REPRESENTATIVE BOURDEAUX THEN McBATH AND McCLOUD.

>> I SUPPORT PRECLEARANCE, I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE MAIN POINT IS TO REINSTATE PRECLEARANCE.

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I AM ENDORSED BY AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG, A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED BY JOHN LEWIS.

AND I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

IN 2018, I CAME WITHIN 433 VOTES OF FLIPPING THE SEAT.

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS THAT ONE THIRD OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT WERE THROWN OUT IN GEORGIA CAME OUT OF GWINNETT.

I LITIGATED AROUND THAT ISSUE AND I WON.

THAT SET THE STAGE FOR THE VICTORIES THE DEMOCRATS HAD IN 2020.

IN 2020, WHEN I RAN MY CAMPAIGN I WAS THE ONLY IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE AN ENTIRE ARMS DEVOTED TO PROTECTING THE VOTE.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THAT, I STRONGLY SUPPORT HR ONE COMMITTEE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND MANY OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICAL AND WILL BE CRITICAL GOING FORWARD.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNG, MY FATHER PUSHED ME IN THE STROLLER AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

SO FIGHTING FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROTECTING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS IN MY DNA.

THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE VERY FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I PASSED IN THE HOUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PROTECTING OUR VOTING RIGHTS.

I PASSED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS THAT THEY WERE OVERSEEING.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF PASSING MY GOOD FRIEND, JOHN LEWIS, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT CITIZENS UNITED, A CITIZEN ORGANIZATION THAT IS DOING GREAT WORK TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING CORPORATE INTERESTS OUT OF POLITICS.

I HAVE BEEN THERE, I HAVE FOUGHT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE THAT IS THE LEGACY OF MY FAMILY AND I WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOTE IS COMPLETELY UNFETTERED, AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE AND YOUR WILL AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> PRECLEARANCE ENDED IN 2013.

UNLIKE REPRESENTATIVE BOURDEAUX WHO WAS ASKED IN 2017, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WHICH I WAS THE LEGISLATOR AND WE WERE --SHE SAID THAT SHE FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE LEFT TO AFRICAN- AMERICANS TO BASICALLY FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS.

IT WAS A QUOTE, I CAN READ THE QUOTE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU FOR YOU TO FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS.

EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD.

I HAVE BEEN REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CARING ABOUT WATER RIGHTS, I WASN'T BORN HERE, I WAS BORN IN JAMAICA AND I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

LESS THAN SIX YEARS, I WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.

YOU STAND UP FOR VOTING RIGHTS BY BEING A PART OF IT.

SHOWING PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO LEAD ON VOTING RIGHTS.

>> YOU HAVE COMPLETELY MISCONSTRUED MY COMMENT.

I AM SUPPOSED TO UPLIFT PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE.

THIS IS WHY CARRIE INTRODUCED THE ACT.

I WAS VERY IMPATIENT.

I HAVE MY STAFF CALL HER ALMOST SEE WHEN SHE WAS INTRODUCING THAT BILL BECAUSE I CARED ABOUT IT SO MUCH.

BUT I WOULDN'T STEP IN FRONT OF HER AND INTRODUCE THIS.

IT IS FOR ME TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM.

BUT I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND HAVE FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A HORRIFIC ATTACK THAT HAVE BEEN ENSUED ON OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS WORKED OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE CIRCUMVENTING AND SUPPRESSING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FAIR MAPS, FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX AND FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS COUNTRY, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND ON THE FRONT LINE AND ARE DESECRATING OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, WE NEED TO BE VOTING IN MASSIVE NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.

MY COMMUNITY, YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON ME -- >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME, I APOLOGIZE.

WE WILL HEAD BACK TO OUR PANELIST.

>> TIA MITCHELL WILL CONTINUE WITH QUESTIONING.

>> ALL THREE OF YOU CANDIDATES HOLD ELECTED OFFICE.

WE WILL START WITH REPRESENTATIVE McCLOUD, TALK ABOUT A BILL YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF, WHAT DID IT DO AND HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO WORK THE PROCESS TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?

>> THE BILL I AM MOST PROUD OF DID NOT MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, THE FORMULA FOR FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE LAST TIME IT WAS UPDATED WAS 1985.

AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT FORMULA GETS UPDATED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM THAT ARE LEFT OUT.

AND PUBLIC EDUCATION KEEPS TAKING THINGS AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS.

IN THE GEORGIA BUDGET, THERE'S $140 MILLION FOR PRIVATE PRISONS.

WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARING THEM TO GO TO PRISON.

IT'S GOT TO STOP.

AND I INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION THAT GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM EDUCATORS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE UNIONS THAT SUPPORT TEACHERS.

IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE UPDATE THE FORMULA.

FOR ANYONE ELECTED IN GEORGIA, KEEP PUSHING IT.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED IT, SO WE CAN GET STUFF LIKE UNIVERSAL PRE-K IN WHICH REPRESENTATIVE BOURDEAUX SABOTAGED.

>> WILL YOU PLEASE RESPOND WITH A REBUTTAL?

>> I DID NOT SABOTAGE THAT, JUST LAST WEEK I DELIVERED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GWINNETT TO HAVE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AND THAT IS A DOWN PAYMENT ON UNIVERSAL PRE-K, WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.

I HAVE BEEN A FEROCIOUS ADVOCATE FOR THAT, GETTING IT INTO BUILD BACK BETTER, WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE.

AND I VOTED FOR IT.

IT IS STUCK IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM THE DEMOCRATS HAVE, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH.

I CARE DEEPLY, AND I HAVE DELIVERED REPEATEDLY FOR MY COMMUNITY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, McBATH >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE PASSED MANY BILLS IN THE HOUSE, SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PASS THE SENATE YET BUT I HAVE PASSED SIX LAWS FOR THE COUNTRY IN THREE SHORT YEARS.

BUT I REMEMBER WHAT MY FATHER USED TO SAY, MARCHING FOR THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL, IS THAT PROGRESS IS SLOW.

THINGS DO NOT CHANGE OVERNIGHT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CULTURAL SHIFTS THAT WE ARE MAKING, TRYING TO PASS POLICY TO DO THAT VERY THING.

CULTURAL SHIFTS TAKE SOMETIMES YEARS IN PROGRESS, I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP, I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE, YOUR HEALTH AND KEEPING YOU SAFE FROM UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LEFT, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR FINAL STATEMENTS.

>> EACH CANDIDATE WILL NOW HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR CLOSING STATEMENT.

CAROLYN BOURDEAUX.

>> HERE IS WHAT IS GOING ON LUCY HAS THAT IT IS EASIER TO FIGHT ME IN THE SENATE THAN TO FIGHT REPUBLICANS.

SHE IS HELPING REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER THE U.S. HOUSE IN NOVEMBER.

AT A CONGRESSWOMAN FROM THE SENATE DISTRICT, I SHOW UP, I LISTEN AND I DELIVER.

I HAVE HELPED OVER 200 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND 17 TOWN HALLS.

I RECENTLY DELIVERED 5 MILLION IN SPECIAL PROJECTS TO INVEST IN EARLIER CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

I AM ENDORSED BY OVER 50 MAJOR COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG.

I CAN ASSURE YOU IF THE SHOE HAD BEEN ON THE OTHER FOOT, I WOULD NOT ABANDON YOU.

AND I HAVE PROVEN THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IN TOUGH RACES, I AM DEEPLY VESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

I CARE ABOUT YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON MAY 24th.

WAS BACK.

--LUCY McBATH.

>> I HAVE WORKED AS HARD AS I POSSIBLY CAN TO BE INVESTED IN YOU.

TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT DEMOCRACY SAYS YOU SHOULD BE AFFORDED.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I AM JUST A MOM ON A MISSION.

THAT IS THE WAY I THINK ABOUT MY WORK.

I WANT TO KEEP YOU SAFE, HEALTHY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CLEAN DRINKING WATER, CLEAN AIR, THAT WE ARE CARING FOR OUR VETERANS AND SENIORS.

THAT IS WHAT I THINK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I AM JUST A MOM ON A MISSION AND I THINK YOU, BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT ENDORSEMENT I COULD EVER RECEIVE WOULD BE FROM YOU.

MY FAMILY, MY GEORGIA CONSTITUENTS, AND ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN WASHINGTON ON YOUR BEHALF.

>> DONNA McLEOD.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE SERIES, I AM STATE ARE PRESENTED OF DONNA McLEOD, I WAS BORN IN JAMAICA AND GREW UP IN ONTARIO, CANADA.

I AM A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, ENGINEER, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND NOW A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7.

FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK, REGISTERED OVER 30,000 PEOPLE, I HAVE INSURED EXTENDED VOTING WAS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE ALSO MADE SURE THAT -- NONE OF MY OPPONENTS VOTE FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT.

WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH OUR REPUBLIC AND REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, YOU DON'T SEAT.

THE PEOPLE IN THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA DESERVE REPRESENTATION THAT GIVES THEM A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

THAT IS WHY I HUMBLY ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE, EARLY VOTING STARTS TOMORROW SO PLEASE GO TO MY WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND VOTERS THAT ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 24th AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS MAY 2nd.

OUR THANKS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I AM LISA RAMM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT THE ATLANTA REST CLUB LOUDERMILK YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.