Hello, I'm Jim Burress, host of All Things Considered at WABE in Atlanta.

And welcome to the Atlanta Press Club.

Loudermilk Young debate series from the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The 2026 debate series was made possible by grants to the Atlanta Press Club from the Arthur M Blank Family Foundation and the Robert Charles Loudermilk Foundation.

This.

Is the debate for the Republican candidates running for Congressional District 11.

District 11 includes parts of Cobb, Cherokee, Pickens and Bartow counties.

We have two journalists who will question the candidates today.

They are Crystal Dixon.

She's a journalist at Axios in Atlanta.

Ross Williams is deputy editor at the Georgia Recorder.

I'm going to kick off today's debate, asking each of the candidates to introduce themselves and tell the viewers why they should be the next congressperson representing district 11 and candidates.

You'll have 60s to introduce yourselves.

We will go in alphabetical order, starting with Rob Atkinson.

Thank you.

My name is Rob Atkinson, and for 38 years I've been married to my best friend.

We have three children, and we recently learned that our seventh grandchild is on the way.

I'm a former small business owner in the alarm and security sector.

A licensed electrician who saw my business decimated by bad policy out of Washington, D.C.

So I got out of my truck and I got into the fight to restore common sense in government.

I did the grassroots work, and I got to know the people that I was voting for.

So when Barry Loudermilk recruited me to run his first campaign for Congress, I brought my business acumen to that race, and we won.

I've had the honor of serving the 11th district since 2015 as his chief of staff.

I'm proud to have Barry Loudermilk's endorsement for my campaign, because he and I have fought side by side against big government, bad policy, and we have stood firm with President Trump for America First.

I would be honored to have your vote as your next congressman.

Thank you.

John Cowan, it's your turn.

Thank you to the Atlanta Press Club for having us today.

This is an important part of our democratic process.

I am Dr.

John Cowan.

I'm a political outsider, a small businessman, a neurosurgeon, a father of four wonderful children and a husband.

And I grew up on a cattle farm, baling hay, going to church, learning the hard work meant that you didn't blame others for your problems.

You fix things when they were broken.

You didn't complain.

You didn't go on social media and make a show.

And I took that those same values to my practice of medicine, where I make life and death decisions each and every day.

I'm going to take that same ethos and effort to Congress and work for you and serve in this role.

We are $38 trillion in debt.

The career politicians have failed us, and I'm here to say no more.

It's time to bring in someone who's ready to do the work and make an immediate impact from day one.

I'm John Cowan, and I would appreciate your support and your vote.

May 19.

And it's your turn.

Yeah.

So I, a public health physician with over 20 years of experience in health care, physician, CDI and a business owner.

I've been running a nonprofit small business for the past six years, and we focus on public administration, legal services, and legislation.

I decided to run for a couple of reasons.

First, immigration and border security has been the centerpiece of our campaign, with the core message that adherence to the due process clause of the 14th amendment rights is critical and important.

Secondly, it's important that we address policies that drive clean energy.

Uh, ensure sustainability compliance.

And finally, we champion diversity and inclusion, particularly for black women or women of color who are America First partners and U.S.

Citizens.

Now, why should you vote for me?

Because I offer a clear vision grounded in the real needs of the people of Georgia.

All right.

Thank you for that.

And, John Hobbs, please introduce yourself.

Good afternoon.

I am John Hobbs.

Who am I?

I am a machinist.

I am a blue collar worker.

And I am a husband, a father of four wonderful children.

So when I tell you that I have to balance a budget on a fixed income, you understand that I am telling you the truth.

As a working class man, that gives me a unique perspective on the real problems that Georgians in the 11th are facing today.

And when I am asked why I ran and why I decided to run, I decided to run for Congress because I see all of the irresponsible spending.

I see everything happening, and I think of the future of my children and not just my children, but the future of all of the rising generation in the 11th district.

And that's why I'm running.

And I ask for your vote.

Thank you.

Chris Mora, it is your turn.

I'm Chris Moore, I'm running for Congress because our district deserves a representative who answers to you, not Washington.

I'm a proud conservative dedicated to the common sense principles of securing our borders and achieving energy independence, and prioritizing America's first agenda that puts our citizens before global interests.

For too long, Washington has been run by career insiders who care more about their next election than our paychecks.

They've forgotten who they serve, but I have not.

I'm not a career politician.

I'm a father, a grandfather, a believer, and a proud Georgian who have spent half my life here in Georgia.

I've worked and watched as people in Washington stop listening to us.

My campaign is simple.

I'll go to Washington, serve with integrity, fight for our values, and then come home.

Because the only thing we should make a career out of is serving God and our communities.

I ask for your vote.

Let's work hard to make the 11th Congressional District great.

Thank you.

And Tricia Pridemore.

Hello, my name is Tricia Pridemore, and for 31 years, this conservative has called this district home.

I'm a graduate from Kennesaw State University.

I built and grew a software business from the district and employed Georgians.

I served on Governor Deal and Governor Kemp's transition teams.

And for the last eight years, I have been a proud member of the Georgia Public Service Commission, elected statewide to make Georgia the number one place for business and the best place to live, work and raise a family.

In addition to these things, I am running for Congress to serve you.

I'm not trying to buy a congressional seat, nor is this an employment plan for my family.

I'm running to serve you.

Georgia and these United States of America.

Please join me at this time to pray for President Donald Trump.

His cabinet, our military.

We've got to stop this culture of violence.

Thank you.

Thank you, candidates, for the full set of debate rules, you can go to Atlanta Press club.org.

We'll now go to the panel, starting with Crystal Dixon, who will ask a question for everyone to answer.

And once again, you have 60s for your response.

Crystal.

Thank you.

Over the last ten years, the president has been a dominant political force in our political landscape.

Donald Trump is unable to run for a second term in for another term in 2028.

So should the Republican Party continue to embrace Trump's Make America Great Again brand, or should the party embark on a new path?

If so, what does this path look like?

And we'll start with John Hobbs.

Thank you.

That's a great question.

I do believe that that brand should go forward.

I identify myself as Maga.

I am American first.

That being said, I believe that Donald Trump has been taking us in the right direction.

I don't agree with all of the things that he does, but the things that he has been putting forth economically, I believe, is the right direction for the United States.

I am a strong supporter of tariffs.

Tariffs is the way to go forward on eliminating taxes.

For far too long we've been paying taxes and the people have gotten used to that.

It was Thomas Paine that said time makes more converts than reason.

We have become too accustomed to paying taxes.

Tariffs is the way forward in Congress.

I want to ratify those things.

I want to make them law and make them permanent.

And along with other policies that the president is putting forward, I support Donald Trump and a lot of the policies that he's been making.

I want to see it become permanent.

Thank you.

Chris Moore, you're next.

I also believe it needs to go forward.

Um, I believe that again, with once we could get Congress to do their job.

Um, giving the appropriate time to let Trump's policies work again, also believe in tariffs.

Tariffs are really important.

Our country actually funded itself back in the day by tariffs.

And since World War two that has changed.

But yes, I would definitely I think also Congress needs to be working with the state to to help some of the short term goals to get some relief.

Uh, while we implement Trump's agenda.

Thank you.

Rob Anderson.

Please respond.

So if the question is, should we continue to make America great?

Absolutely.

Should we continue to put America first?

Absolutely.

I've been in this fight to make America great and defend our first principles since 2008.

On the ground, doing the work.

I've been battle tested in Washington, D.C.

On that front, I have said during this race, these these two vital.

Last years of President Trump's term are very important.

But pretty soon we're going to be starting to talk about 20:28, and we're going to have to decide who our candidate is, who can carry that mantle.

And it's going to have to be somebody who has that same spine of steel that will stand up for America first, that we can stand with for the next eight years going forward.

Thank you.

Um.

Um, I support President Donald Trump.

Uh, I believe he, um, he made the right choice based on the issues and direction he represented.

Um, he is my president and I also support, uh, his mission on making America great.

Tricia Pridemore, you're next.

I am Georgia, first in America.

First.

I believe in the agenda that President Trump has put forward in the vision that he has for our country.

I do believe that the next Republican president will have that exact same agenda, because it puts the lives of everyday Americans just like us.

First, I believed in the America First agenda all the way back when President Ronald Reagan ran on this platform back in 1980.

I know that America's best days are ahead.

And in this race, I'm the only one that has worked alongside President Trump's administration and the national energy Dominance Council to provide American energy independence and ensure that we can provide not only our kids and our grandkids energy independence and dominance, but also help our allies all around the world.

Thank you.

John Cowan, you have the final response.

Thank you.

We absolutely need to make America great.

And I think the one thing Donald Trump has done is unify the Republican Party around the concept that we need political outsiders.

We need people who built businesses, people who've served in their communities, and people willing to make the sacrifice to go to DC and shake things up.

We have too many people in the swamp getting a paycheck.

They love the praise.

They love to become social media influencers.

And Donald Trump said, listen, we cannot enact the great ideas that constitutional conservatives have without a backbone.

And I'm a brain surgeon and a spine surgeon.

I know something about brains and spines, and I'll go up to DC and make sure they use them.

Our panel will now ask a question to an individual candidate, and we'll start with Ross Williams asking a question for Uloma Khama.

Once again, you have 60s for your response.

Thank you.

In your opening remarks, you spoke a little bit about diversity, equity and inclusion.

On your website.

You say, we champion a vision for diversity, equity and inclusion that proudly aligns with President Trump and Republican policies.

But the Trump administration's goals, stated goals have been to dismantle Dei in education and business and elsewhere.

So how do you square those two things together?

Um, yes.

Uh, my campaign actually championed diversity and inclusion for black women and or women of color who are US citizens or who are American American first partners.

Uh, so, um, I believe we have to work as a team.

Uh, I believe we, uh, we should, uh, look into that and, uh, um, kind of, uh, come to, uh, a common ground.

All right.

Thank you.

Um, Crystal.

Dixon, please ask your question of John Cowan.

Uh, Mr.

Cowan, on your website, you mentioned you want to, quote, fix problems created by Obamacare, and you go on to state that you want to, quote, lower premiums, expand choices, and put patients back in charge of their own care.

What specific legislation or policies would you introduce to achieve that goal?

Sure.

That's a great question.

And if you look at our health care system right now, it's broken.

We have the best technology, the best doctors, the best training.

We're the envy of the world.

We have the best medications, but we have a problem with delivery and the delivery problem we have is because we have too many influences that get between you and your doctor.

The government is in the exam room.

The insurance company is in the exam room.

I have insurance companies telling me every single day how to practice medicine.

We've got to let free market principles back into the practice of health care.

We need to allow people to buy insurance across state lines.

We've got to increase the use of health savings accounts.

We need to allow physicians to start owning some of the facilities again.

We need site neutral site neutrality when it comes to payments.

We can't pay one group ten times what another group is paying for rural health care.

We've got to expand telemedicine.

We've got to have loan forgiveness programs, and we've got to make health care great again.

And I'm dedicated to that proposition.

I've worked 25 years in a system that continually fails us, but has the best and brightest opportunity ahead.

Thank you for that.

And Ross, um, you may ask John Hobbs a question.

Thank you.

I think everybody up here today has just said that they were, you know, a member of the Maga wing of the party.

But I wonder if you could help to, you know, help voters understand, you know, what kind of a Republican you are.

Is there a current member of Congress or maybe somebody who recently served who you would say is somebody you want to emulate?

If you're elected or someone you match with philosophically?

Someone I match with philosophically for, um, sure.

Uh, I'll call her out.

I am a huge fan of Nancy Mace, so Nancy Mace was kind of an inspiration for me.

Uh, I saw her origins, so she worked at a waffle House and now is one of the leading members of Congress, um, now currently running for governor of her state.

Um, I like seeing people like that.

I'm a firm believer that what will fix Congress is not only term limits, but it is having regular, everyday working Americans in office.

What we need is we need more truck drivers, more teachers, more nurses representing people in Congress.

That is what will help our country and what will save us.

I am a firm believer in that and myself as a machinist.

That is why I'm running so we can get more sound voices in Washington.

Thank you.

Crystal please ask your question of Tricia Pridemore.

According to reporting by the AJC, the PSC has voted six times to raise Georgia power rates for Georgia Power customers.

High utility bills were a major factor in two for two incumbent Republican PSC members losing reelection last year.

How would you explain your support for those increases to voters who are feeling the affordability pinch when it comes to their utility bills and other factors of their lives?

Thank you for the question, Miss Dickson.

So last year I voted to freeze Georgia power rates for the next three years.

That is something that has not been done in any other state and in any other utility across the country.

I recognize, like you do, that our power bills have gone up, our bills for all of our essential services, food, rent, insurance.

They've all been on the rise, which is why I took an active step, along with my Republican colleagues on the Georgia Public Service Commission, to freeze rates here in Georgia.

Our utility rates are 15% below the national average.

A lot of the conversation around affordability, it's true.

And I hate the situation we're in.

I hate four years of record, Biden inflation and how it's dramatically affected all of our lives.

But know this I've taken a stand, and I believe firmly that things are getting better.

Russ, you may now ask a question of Rob Atkinson.

Thank you.

As you've said, you've been endorsed by the incumbent, your boss, uh, if you are elected in what you know, to what extent will your tenure be an extension of Congressman Loudermilk?

And can you tell us also some ways that you'll set yourself apart?

Well, I would set myself apart because we're two different people.

Um, I have learned a lot from Congressman Loudermilk.

He is a consummate statesman.

This district has been represented very well for the last 11.5 years.

Will be 12 when he leaves.

We're different people.

We're going into a new age.

I mean, I am very attuned to the digital age, and there are several congressmen, sitting members of Congress out there now who utilize the phones and the digital age to keep the constituents of their districts and the people of the country in tune and in the room about what's going on in Washington, D.C.. So one of the biggest changes for me is that I'm very comfortable every day talking to the folks, bringing the message.

And just like Ronald Reagan said, I think the way we make the wind blow in Washington is we bring the people along with us.

And that's what I plan to do through through all the available forms that are available now in this new age.

So.

, Crystal, please ask the last question of this round for Chris Mora.

Chris, data centers have become a hot topic among residents, as well as environmental activists across the state, due to how much water and energy they require to run.

However, the demand for them is increasing due to our need for data storage and connectivity.

Would you support regulations that would balance the need for these data centers with environmental protections?

Absolutely.

Especially since in our district we have lots of farmland, uh, farmland that, that, uh, I know a lot of us want to protect, um, now in regards to data centers, we need to have our own data here on our soil for sure.

Uh, we can't afford to outsource that or have that someplace else.

Um, but we need to protect, like I said, our farmers, we need to protect our communities.

There are certain counties, the county that I actually come from, um, has a water problem as a water source problem.

We don't even hardly have enough water for the folks in our own community.

So stuff like that wouldn't work.

Um, we also have other issues in regards to, in some of our other counties that are up north as well.

If communities don't want them, it shouldn't be and we shouldn't be subsidizing these data centers.

Um, so that's kind of where we definitely need to protect our land and, and make sure that we don't let this go too far and have it be a free for all.

Like we had some of the other industries in our state.

Right?

Thank you candidates.

And that concludes our first round.

The candidates will now ask a question to an opponent of their choice.

You'll have 30s to ask that question, 60s to respond.

And the person who asked the original question will get a 32nd rebuttal.

And Chris Mora, you get the first question for one of your opponents.

Dr.

Cowan, you say you stand with President Trump, but past social media posts say differently.

For example, the GOP cannot consider itself the home of the conservative movement with Trump in any form of leadership role.

What do you say to the voters that question your use of Trump in your campaign?

Listen, I think these are typical political gotcha type questions.

The fact is, I grew up playing football and on a football team, you got lots of people playing.

And I learned one thing is when the coach stops yelling at you or getting on your case, that means they don't care.

I want to form a more perfect union.

I want to form a more perfect, uh, Republican Party and a more in a better country.

And if that means, uh, speaking my mind at times, I will.

I absolutely support President Trump.

What he's doing.

He's a transformational leader.

He's a, he's been a businessman just like I have.

He is dedicated to lowering health care costs, energy costs, and putting America first.

And as your next congressman, I'll do absolutely that.

In 30s for a rebuttal.

I look at it a little differently.

If if I'm a little frustrated or whatnot.

Um, I'm going to throw my support, I'm going to support, throw support of positivity, uh, with rooting on our president.

Um, I think with some of the comments, um, a lot of folks in our district have a problem with that.

Thank you.

And Tricia Pridemore, please ask your question to one of your opponents.

John Cowan.

You once said, and I quote, If I'm losing this election, you're not going to see me run anywhere else.

I'm going to fight for this district.

This is the district I love.

Beautiful words you said about another congressional district.

Your congressional district in Rome, Georgia, where you've lived for decades.

That district had an open congressional election just a few days ago, and you had the chance to vote for yourself and your wife, vote for you in that district, help the people of Rome, Georgia, understand why you abandoned the district.

You love to run here.

Instead.

You know, I love this country, and I love the Lord.

Uh, you know, and I'm glad to win the popularity contest up here.

And much to the chagrin of my opponents, I meet all of the criteria to run for the U.S.

House if they bother to read the Constitution.

I have a 100 year history in Bartow County.

I grew up on a cattle farm there.

My father was a physician there for 40 years.

I've taken care of thousands of patients from Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Pickens and Gordon County.

I have two small businesses, an ice cream company and a fireplace store that operate in all of those locations.

People know me in this district.

People know that I'm here to serve.

And just like President Trump making a sacrifice to go drain the swamp for you.

You have 30s for a rebuttal.

Well, the last time that John Cowan lived in the district, the Atlanta Olympics were going on.

I've been here a long time.

I love this district.

I love my people.

You can find me anywhere.

Kroger, Walmart.

Talk to me about the things that are important to you as you do right now.

While I serve on the Georgia Public Service Commission.

John Hobbs, it's your turn to ask a question of an opponent of your choice.

Thank you, Mr.

Cowan.

It's not for you.

Take everything.

You've gotten a lot today, Mr.

Atkinson.

We have had the longest shutdown in history.

Groceries, grocery prices are skyrocketing.

Families are struggling.

A lot of people see Washington as the problem.

You have served as chief of staff in Washington for over 11 years.

If you have real solutions, why have you not advised the current sitting member of Congress to solve these problems?

Now we we have, uh, offered lots of lots of solutions over the 11.5 years that Congressman Loudermilk has been in Congress.

We have.

I can speak about the Merit Act.

I can speak about the banking regulations that we have that where we actually worked to undo much of the damage of Dodd-Frank when they tried to take out the community banking industry in this country and nearly succeeded.

But we worked to to get rid of much of that legislation, that dreadful legislation.

And we've worked all the time to stop.

We've been in the minority and we've been in the majority.

When we were in the minority, we worked to stop and expose what was going on in Congress.

But folks don't remember that.

When the Democrats took over in 2019, the very first thing they tried to do was pass an election takeover.

We fought back against that.

We exposed it.

We told the people about it, and they failed at that effort in 2019.

So we have done quite a bit, uh, with regard to our mission of faith, family and freedom.

And you have time for a rebuttal if you would like.

Working class families like myself are struggling currently.

If there are solutions that could be had, it seems very opportunistic that they're not being resolved.

Now.

Excuse me.

It's your turn to ask a question of an opponent.

Okay.

My question is to John Cowan.

With Congress still negotiating the federal budget, some Democrats argue that certain widely used Medicare programs could face reductions.

Many voters are paying close attention on how these discussions may affect their health care access.

Given this concern, would you support any measures that scale back Medicare or Medicaid benefits?

And are you willing to vote for policies that could limit access to these programs?

No.

I've spent the last 25 years trying to heal people.

I've made life and death decisions.

And I know one thing.

We've made a promise to our seniors that we will provide health care in their times of need, and I will do nothing to reduce their access.

What I can do is get the government out of the exam room.

Right now, most of our health care costs are going to insurance companies.

They're going to defensive medicine, they're going to not using the best practices when it comes to where certain types of health care should be delivered.

We've got to expand telehealth.

We need to have loan forgiveness programs.

We've got to control drug prices, and we've got to get the insurance companies out of this system where they're making more profits than ever before.

Miss Cama, you have 30s for rebuttal.

If you'd like.

I don't have a rebuttal.

All right.

Thank you, John Cowan, it's your turn to ask a question to one of your opponents.

Mr.

Hobbs, I was glad to hear you talk about term limits.

It's something I've spent the last six years working on.

As the chair of U.S.

Term limits for the state of Georgia and and started 27 chapters across the country.

We're in 14 states right now trying to get it passed.

If you're in Congress, what type of term limits would you like to pass?

So the president recently talked about three terms, six years for members of Congress.

I think 12 is good.

That sounds like a fair number.

Uh, sitting members of the Senate have 12 years.

And the two terms.

That is what I would like to see.

Ultimately, I would like to see a convention of states.

I would like the States to decide on what Congress needs to, how long they need to serve.

Um, having new and fresh faces in Congress, I think, is what really is going to help the United States of America and help the members of the 11th District of Georgia.

We need new, fresh faces.

Having these term limits is imperative.

I will fight as much as I can to get term limits set.

If Congress will not vote for it for itself, then I will fight to have the convention of States do it.

Thank you.

And you have time for a rebuttal if you'd like.

Yeah, I think that's exactly right.

And I would hope that everyone up here would commit to the term limits.

Cause I know there's one tool that President Trump is going to use to help drain the swamp.

We cannot have a continued system where people enrich themselves in Congress.

They they trade stocks and and make money off the backs of hardworking Georgians.

Robert Jimison you get the last question to an opponent of your choosing.

Miss Primer, you got the question here.

And I knew the question was coming about six rate increases that were voted as your.

In your time on the PSC.

What I heard in the answer sounded a little bit like, okay, I picked your pocket six times, but I promise I'm not going to do it again.

I'm putting a moratorium on pick pocketing.

Would you like to take another shot at that answer and speak to the family of four in the 11th district, who is having to decide between paying their high power bill and buying groceries?

Thank you for the question, Rob.

You know, for 11, almost 12 years, you've spent time in the DC swamp.

And I think by now you'd know the rules.

I would encourage you to open up an open records request of the Georgia Public Service Commission and ask for all of the times that we have sent a correction to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on this very issue.

The Georgia PSC did not vote six times for six rate increases.

It's simply not true.

And if maybe if you would have spent a little more time last year helping us elect two Republicans to the Public Service Commission out there knocking doors on the stump, making calls, as I did, and other Republican grassroots folks across the state did, you'd realize that it wasn't true because you'd already know it.

So that's a no.

On addressing the family of four.

I already did address the family of four.

I've frozen the rates for the next three years, and our rates are 15% below the national average.

We'll still give you 30s.

If you'd like a rebuttal, Mr.

Atkinson.

Well, I'm not running for the national average.

I don't care if Illinois and California are higher.

I'm running to represent the 11th district.

All right.

You are watching the Republican primary debate for Congressional District 11.

And we now go back to the panel who will ask questions to the candidate of their choosing until we run out of time.

And, Crystal Dixon, we'll start with you.

I wanted to get the four remaining candidates who did not answer the term limit question.

Um, do you also support term limits?

Um, and if so, why or why not?

We'll start with Tricia Pridemore.

I support term limits for members of members of Congress when the bureaucrats are also term limited.

Uh, I know from working in government that when people leave the power then resides with the staff and the bureaucrats.

I also think, too, that a uniform term limit schedule is pretty tricky.

Consider for the moment that if all members of Congress went home one year, or at least a third of them, that's how Ilhan Omar and AOC get committee chairmanships.

And nobody knows.

Yes, I believe in three terms.

Three terms, uh, for Congress.

I think we've had people sitting there way too long.

I think, uh, some of those folks that are currently sitting in Congress actually belong in jail.

Um, we definitely need to have fresh faces come in fresh minds.

And I don't think 12 years in Congress is sending in fresh faces.

I think we get stuck and stuck in a situation like we are now, where Congress is just clearly just not doing their job.

So yeah, three terms.

Um, yeah, I, absolutely, I support term limits.

Uh, I believe term limits can be a way to increase accountability and bring fresh perspective into government.

And I also believe it's up to the voters.

Uh, they have the power to decide, uh, how long someone should serve in Congress.

And, Mr.

Atkinson, you get the last.

Yes.

I have signed on to the term limits pledge, and the member of Congress that we currently have in the 11th district has term limited himself.

And I and I and I agreed to that same number of years.

I will I will make a note that we were at a previous forum.

All of us agreed to term limit ourselves except Dr.

Cowan.

Dr.

Cowan said he will follow the law.

That's a very creative political way to answer and say no, because what he's saying is I will term limit myself when when Congress passes a term limit, and then all the states ratify it, which could be 15-20 years from now.

So I will term limit myself at 12 years.

And I've signed on to get the bill passed in Congress.

Russ Williams, please ask your next question.

Thank you.

Uh, the United States has a unique relationship with the nation of Israel.

Do you think that relationship is beneficial or harmful to the people of the 11th district?

And is this to all candidates?

Yes.

All right.

We'll start with Miss Pridemore.

I absolutely believe that the United States must stand with our greatest ally in the world, and that is Israel.

And that's an opinion that I've had long before I ever ran for office, not only is a Christian do I believe that, but I also recognize without Israel, we would not have stability in the Middle East.

How that directly affects the 11th Congressional District are the materials that are made to be able to help us in the Middle East are made right in the 11th district at Lockheed.

So I know that there's not only an economic benefit, but there's also the greater national security benefit.

All right.

And Chris Moore.

Again, I agree, Israel is our biggest ally there in the Middle East.

And, you know, it all has to do with national security for me.

Um, you know, that is the role of Congress is to handle national security.

And that is not something that, uh, I mean, that's something that we, we, we need to continue, uh, backing Israel.

Um, and why we're in Iran right now.

Um, on the, on the mission that's going on right now.

Miss comma.

Um, yeah, I, I also believe you should, uh, we should, uh, have some kind of a relationship with Israel, work with Israel.

Um, they are allies.

So, um, why not?

And Mr.

Hobbs.

Israel is our ally, and we should always back them.

Iran, a nuclear Iran is a direct threat to the 11th district of Georgia.

As Miss Pridemore already mentioned.

We have Lockheed Martin in our background.

My history in machining and in manufacturing.

I did lots of contracts for Lockheed, and I'm well aware of the things that are done there.

And having a nuclear adversary is a threat directly to the 11th district, allying with Israel and making sure that they did not have power was very necessary.

And I do support what the decisions the president has made, both in Iran and in with Israel.

Thank you.

Mr.

Cohen.

Yeah.

Listen, Israel is our ally, period.

Full stop.

They're the only democracy in the Middle East.

They are free market economy.

They share many of the same values we do.

And they have been the front lines on the war on terror since their inception.

They've been under constant attack, defending their freedoms, and have been, like I said, on the front lines, defending us.

We we owe them every effort and every.

We should.

We should constantly pray for them.

We should give them all the support they need to help us fight this war on terror.

End it and get democracy and free market economies to spread across the Middle East.. And Mr.

Acheson.

Absolutely.

We have to stand with Israel, and I admire what President Trump has done over his first term in this term in building the Abraham Accords, because all this stuff is a long term step to where we are now and now.

And now President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu are doing what presidents and world leaders didn't have the spine to do for 47 years.

It would have been very easy to throttle Iran when when they first took over/under Jimmy Carter, presidents and world leaders have let them get stronger and stronger and stronger.

And this president and Prime Minister Netanyahu are doing what needs to be done.

And in 100 years from now, historians are going to back at this as a monumental change on our planet.

And I welcome it.

And I thank God for it.

Crystal we come back to you.

The Trump, the Trump administration has been heavily criticized for deploying Ice agents to cities across America, across America, two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by Ice agents in the Twin Cities.

Um, would you support sending Ice if elected?

Would you support the president's decision if he were to decide to send Ice agents to Atlanta and other cities across Georgia?

And if so, why or why not?

This question is for everyone.

And I'm going to start with Tricia Pridemore.

Again, sorry to pick on you.

That's okay, Miss Dixon.

It's fine.

I'm used to it.

It's good.

I fully support the president's agenda where Ice is concerned, and it is time that the United States Congress stop taking time off.

Get off vacation, get back in the U.S.

House.

Get back in the United States Senate and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security here in Georgia.

I took the lead where TSA workers hadn't been paid for six weeks to institute a moratorium on their utility bills, forgive their late fees, and give them an extra 30 days once their payment, once their their funding is restored to get current on their accounts.

What happened Saturday night is horrific.

Our culture cannot get used to that level of violence.

We should fully pay the Secret Service, the Coast Guard and every arm of the Department of Homeland Security today.. And Chris Moore, your turn.

Yeah, I fully support Donald Trump in regards to sending an ice to certain cities.

You know, we have a in our district, we have an immigration problem.

Um, and I've talked about this quite a bit.

Uh, we absolutely have to have a moratorium on allowing folks to come into this country.

We have too many illegals.

They don't want to follow the law.

They need to go.

Um, it's dangerous.

It's made our cities dangerous for allowing, allowing illegals in our communities.

So yeah, absolutely.

That's a no brainer.

Uh, definitely support Ice.

And if it's Atlanta or any other city that's facing a problem, we need to be supporting and protecting our citizens of this country first and always.

Miss comma.

Um, yeah, I do support, uh, sending ice to certain cities as well.

Um, like I said, immigration and border security is the centerpiece of our campaign and we must secure our borders, enforce our laws, and restore a system that protects American families.

Mr.

Hobbs.

Thank you.

I'd like to take this time to say to the members of Ice, I will have your back.

I think it's important that with all of the funding that you have received, there can be more funding that is poured into training, better training, conflict resolution.

Also body cameras, body cameras make everyone honest and vindicates our agents.

In addition to that, what I want to push hard on is doctors.

I think there needs to be hard punishment on doctors.

Examples need to be made and when that starts happening, the Ice agents will be in a position where they're comfortable enough, where they feel and they feel that they are safe and their families are safe enough where the masks can come off.

Thank you.

John Cowan.

Look, President Trump is the first president in all of our lifetimes to take a serious approach to the immigration problem.

He closed our southern border under Joe Biden.

We had a porous border.

I've done mission trips on the Tex-Mex border with my church, and I've seen firsthand what happens when we have an open border.

We have people arriving there thinking that they can experience the American dream by short circuiting the system.

The people in Mexico on the border were begging Donald Trump to build a wall back then, and it is the humane thing to do to close our border.

We are a nation of laws.

And if you're here illegally, you need to get back in line or go back home.

Under Joe Biden, Ice was prohibited from working with our sheriffs officers and other law enforcement to remove illegal aliens who were in custody.

Right now, you talk to Frank Reynolds and some of the other sheriffs in our district.

Uh, Ice is able to go into our jails and remove criminals from this country.

And Mr.

Atkinson.

Of course, I support Ice.

77 million of my friends and I voted for mass deportation of the 20 million people that the Biden administration let into this country.

I find the talking point for the Democrats funny, because Ice has been doing their job.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement since they've existed.

They did it heavily under Barack Obama, and nobody had had a problem to say about it.

They will oppose anything.

This president, and by default, we want to do in this country.

So, yes, absolutely.

I support Ice doing their jobs.

As moderator, I have the opportunity to ask a question, and I want to ask quickly of the candidates.

Many of you said that you believed in Donald Trump's America First agenda.

Is the war in Iran.

America First.

And if you were elected to Congress, would it bother you that he didn't ask Congress to authorize this war?

And we'll start with you, Mr.

Acheson.

Under the War Powers Act, he has time.

And actually, it's not just 60 days.

It's 90 days.

But yes, this is absolutely America first, because as I stated earlier, we have lost a lot of blood and a lot of our greatest citizens fighting around the tentacles of the octopus that is Iran.

Their proxies and their side wars.

And nobody's ever had the courage to actually stand up to the root of the problem.

And that's what's happening now.

The face of this planet is going to change.

And if you want to talk about forever wars, Iran was the forever war that nobody had the backbone to fight.

And thank God that President Trump and again, uh, Prime Minister Netanyahu are doing that right now.

And Mr.

Cohen.

Yeah.

So look, national security is America first.

It is the first in line.

It is the thing that the president wakes up in the middle of the night concerned about is our safety and our and concern for citizens.

And Donald Trump has done that.

Iran has been our greatest enemy for the last 50 years.

It is literally the only country in this world that wants to have nuclear weapons and use them on the United States and Israel.

They've said that so much, and we cannot allow a nuclear Iran.

We cannot allow this autocratic theocracy to continue.

They terrorize their neighbors.

They terrorize their own people.

They've killed 50,000 of their own people in the last several months.

Imagine what they would do to people in the United States if they had nuclear weapons.

Mr.

Hobbs.

Thank you.

Uh, Iran is not just an America First issue.

It is a Georgia first issue.

As we've discussed with Lockheed Martin, with Hartsfield-Jackson, the largest airport in the world, we have viable targets that need to be protected.

Taking out a nuclear Iran is essential to the protection and safety and well-being of all of those in Georgia.

In addition, Iran is not a country that can be negotiated with.

They were hijacked in 79 by a murderous regime.

They are radicals and they chant Death to America and want to see every single person in this country dead.

Regardless of where we stand politically or morally of any topic, simply because we are Americans.

And the the steps that the president has taken, I absolutely support.

Thank you.

Miss Karma.

Um.

Well, I, uh, I don't have any comment on Iran issues.

I think, uh, I just don't want to talk about that.

All right.

Um, and we go to you, Mr.

Mora.

Yeah.

I'm actually proud of, uh, President Trump.

Um, he's the first president that's that's had the cojones to actually step up and do something.

Um, it's too long that we've allowed, uh, that whole region to be unsettled.

And I'm actually really encouraged that I see a lot of the other, other other countries surrounding, um, are backing this effort.

Not all, but some are and coming on board because I think they see the long term goal.

It's going to be a safer world for everybody.

We cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, period.

So absolutely agree this needed to be done.. And Miss Pridemore.

Thank you for the question.

Jim.

So I stand unequivocally with President Trump on disabling the capabilities in Iran next to rescuing the October 7 Hamas hostages last year, disabling Iran's nuclear capabilities have got to be top five greatest accomplishments of this president.

Last year.

You look at the funding of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, every known Middle Eastern terrorist organization.

The money flows through Iran.

We simply cannot allow a nuclear Iran to take place.

The lives of our children, our grandchildren.

The freedom on this planet is at stake.

I will join the no Sharia caucus in the United States House.

Sharia law is incompatible with American and Georgia values.

We must continue.

He must continue.

And by God's will and mercy, we will succeed.

And Ross, it's your turn.

Thank you, Dr.

Cowan.

A large number of Georgians dropped their health care insurance after premiums jumped for federally subsidized Affordable Care Act plans.

Should Congress have extended the enhanced health insurance subsidies that expired last year?

And if not, what could be done to make health care more affordable now that so many Georgians have lost coverage?

Yeah, I mean, look, the problem is, is we've we've kicked the can down the road for the last 50 years.

Obamacare was essentially a handout to insurance companies.

What we should have done is allowed insurance companies to compete across state lines.

We should put doctors and nurses back in control of health care.

We've got to expand, uh, rural health and rural medicine capabilities.

And we just can't keep kicking the can down the road.

We've got to have serious individuals who know about the practice of medicine, willing to make hard decisions and hard changes.

We can make health care affordable if we get rid of a lot of the waste, fraud and abuse.

And as a physician, I can tell you what's important in medicine and what's not.

And all of these government regulations and, and check boxes, we have to check do nothing to make you healthier.

They only they only increase the cost.

And Crystal you get the last question.

Um, everything is more expensive and everyone is feeling the squeeze from every direction.

I think we touched on affordability just a little bit among some of the candidates, but I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to talk.

If you were elected, what specific legislation would you introduce to address affordability issues?

And I'll start with Mr.. Adams.

And I should say that we will only have 30s for these answers.

I will continue, I will I will continue to work and to fortify a lot of the president's executive orders with regard to energy independence and energy production in our country, and that, by nature, will help drive down virtually everything that we have to purchase.

Mr.

Cowan.

Out of control.

Government spending is the leading cause of inflation in this country.

H.R.

One every year should be the Congress has a balanced budget, or within 3% of GDP, or.

No one up there gets paid.

Mr.

Hobbs.

I want to see people keep 100% of their check.

I think that can happen for most Americans.

Also, I want to invest in businesses that invest in their employees.

I think deregulating companies so they can make money and helping businesses invest in their employees by giving them incentives to invest in better training, better, uh, better certifications and ways that employees can make more money and help themselves grow.

Thank you.

Miss Comma.

Um.

I do have comment on that.

All right, Mr.

Mora.

I would approach it right away with two things.

One, attacking the fraud, the the government spending, the, the free for all that we've had for way too long.

And the second is definitely energy because obviously gasoline prices, keeping gas low because it affects everything.

Our food, our our building, everything.

So those are those definitely be the two first things I would attack.

Miss Pridemore.

The fact of affordability is real.

And it's here because President Biden gave us four years of record inflation that has affected everything that we buy.

I will work every single solitary day to ensure that I lower taxes, lower regulations, and do the things that it takes from the United States House to be able to cut back on this fraud substantially.

We have got to protect Social Security.

We've got to protect Medicare.

We have to do the things that it takes to put our government back on track.

Thank you candidates.

And that is all the time we have for questions.

Now, the candidates will have 60s for a closing statement, and Robert Jimison will start with you.

Thank you for tuning in.

I'm the only candidate in this race who truly understands the realities of the job that I'm asking for.

I was on the baseball field in 2017 when a lunatic Democrat tried to take out members of that team and almost killed Steve Scalise.

We've all seen what happened this weekend with the third attempt on President Trump's life.

Folks, the wolf is not just at the door.

The wolf is in the house.

So I'm asking.

I've been tested in Washington, D.C.

They can't change me.

My my motivation is our children and grandchildren.

And I'm asking for your vote to represent you in Congress.

Miss comma, it's your turn.

Okay.

Thank you to to, to viewers at home and my sincere appreciation to Atlanta Press Club and Georgia for organizing this debate series.

Early, early voting starts today.

I'm humbly asking for your vote to represent the 11th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives.

I'm running to bring principled leadership, accountability, and renewed commitment to the people who make Georgia strong immigration and border security are the centerpiece of my campaign.

I'm proud to be a Trump endorsed candidate.

I believe in clean energy innovations and sustainability compliance when it comes to climate change.

My position is clear.

I believe in climate change that climate change can be natural.

And finally, I support big government when where it matters most in critical policy making and in and in implementation that protects our nation.

For more information, please visit our website w w w elect for us.

Congress.com.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Cowan, you're next with your closing statement.

Thank you.

Um, thank you.

Atlanta Press Club.

I'm Dr.

John Cowan.

I'm the only political outsider, neurosurgeon and small businessman.

I've got an ice cream company and a fireplace company.

I have four wonderful children, and my wife's an anesthesiologist.

They keep me honest.

They keep me humble.

I've spent an entire career serving my communities and serving the people of North Georgia.

I'll take that same energy and ethic to Congress to serve the people of the 11th district.

Listen, I don't blame others for problems.

I get in there and fix the problems, and that's what I will do.

I'll work each and every day for every one of you.

We will have first class district services so that when you need the federal government to do something for you, we will be there.

I will not bow to special interest and I will support President Trump to shake things up and drain the swamp in DC.

And we'll continue to make America great.

Jonathan Hobbs Europe.

Thank you.

While doctors and career politicians represent privilege, I represent you, fellow Georgians.

I am John Hobbs.

I am a working class American and I am.

Everyone likes to say they're all outsiders, I. This is my first attempt at politics.

Um, I love Georgia.

This is my home.

I want to see it succeed.

And I'm excited for Georgia because Georgia has an opportunity to send one of its own, a working class member of its community to Congress, to Washington to be a real voice for the people and please come out and vote in force.

Come out May 19.

You can see our website, John Hobbs for congress.com.

Vote for me.

I am asking for your vote.

Thank you.

Chris Mora, you're next.

We started this campaign a little over a year ago.

I was the first candidate that came out planning to run against our current congressman.

Wasn't afraid, had the courage to do it.

I assembled a group of patriots that worked hard to believe our elections were stolen back in 2020.

I worked hard, sued our even our county to try to to show and see where the problem was, where the breakdown was to try to do a hand recount.

I've been involved with many, many civic organizations in my community.

Um, anybody that knows me knows I work hard.

I love my community.

Um, I don't know of any other place I can live anywhere based on with my job, but I choose to live in Pickens County.

I shop in Cherokee County and down in Cobb.

Um, the people are great.

I want something great to be left for my grandchildren.

I want something to be great for the people in my community.

Please visit me at Moore for georgia.com.

I need your vote.. And Tricia Pridemore, you get the final statement.

I'm the only one in this race that has ever won an election.

Local, state, much less federal.

I can win in November and fight the Democrats.

I can help preserve a House Republican majority in the United States.

House of Representatives.

My campaign has been endorsed by former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Governor Deal, Mayor Tommy Allegood of Acworth, Mayor Thunder Tomlin of Marietta, state Senator Dr.

Kay Kirkpatrick, Martha Zoller and dozens of other local leaders.

Because they've worked with me, they know me, they know the hard work, the persistence and the heart that I have for this state and this nation.

I humbly ask for your vote, either today and early voting or in the May 19th Republican primary.

I'm not trying to buy a congressional seat, nor is this a chance for me to employ my family.

I'm doing this because I love my state and I love my country.

Join me in praying for President Donald Trump, his cabinet, and our military during these times.

May God bless you and may God bless the great United States of America.

And a reminder that early voting does start today, April 27.

And that runs through May 15.

Election day is Tuesday, May the 19th.

We want to give a big thanks to all of the candidates for coming in this afternoon, as well as our panelists, for asking great questions.

We'd also like to thank the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Public Broadcasting for arranging today's debate.

I'm Jim Burress, thanks for joining us for the Atlanta Press Club.

Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.