Hello, I'm Donna Lowery, host of Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

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 Blank Family Foundation and the Robert Charles Loudermilk Foundation.

This is the debate for the Democratic candidates running for Georgia governor.

We have two journalists who will question the candidates.

Rahul Bali is a politics reporter at w a b e in Atlanta.

Chuck Williams is a senior reporter with W r b news three in Columbus, Georgia.

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

Nerve Georgia candidates will have 60s to introduce themselves.

We will go in alphabetical order, starting with Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Good afternoon.

I am Keisha Lance bottoms.

At least a fifth generation Georgian.

I know the difference that leadership makes in this state.

Like so many of you, I woke up the day after the last presidential election wondering what did it mean for me, my family, my community, and the state as a whole.

So I prayed, and after careful consideration, I am offering myself as a candidate for governor.

We need leaders who will focus on expanding Medicaid, improving education in our state, cracking down on corporate landlords, supporting small businesses, and working to make sure that our children have the best opportunity to succeed.

I've spoken with Georgians around this state, and no matter where we are, we are all asking for the same things.

We want life to be better for our families and our communities.

I hope to earn your support.

Thank you.

Olu Brown is next.

Hello, Georgia.

My name is Olu Brown.

I'm running to be your next governor.

I'm a builder, and together we can build a better Georgia for all of us.

I'm a father.

I'm a husband.

I'm a faith leader.

I'm a small business owner.

I'm a provider, and I'm a protector.

I know Georgia doesn't feel affordable right now.

I know the cost of a gallon of milk.

I know how much it costs to fill up my gas tank.

I am fighting so you don't have to check your bank account each day.

I'll make sure we expand Medicaid so that we can make health care more affordable.

We'll protect our hospitals and rural Georgia.

We're also going to make sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education.

And we're going to start teacher compensation at $50,000, and we're going to guarantee we protect the rights of women in Georgia.

So no one under the Gold Dome makes decisions about your body.

I'm a builder, and together we can build a fairer Georgia for all of us.

Join the team, go to Olafur PG&E.com.

On day one, we'll go to work.

Thank you.

Amanda Duffy, it's your turn.

Hi, my name is Amanda Duffy.

I am a twin mom based out of Augusta, Georgia.

I am a wife to a firefighter who, in the recent years has worked two back to back jobs.

And I've done a significant amount of solo parenting, survived some medical issues.

I am of the middle the lower middle class.

I'm the person that's just like a majority of the rest of Georgians making sacrifices.

We shouldn't have to make.

And financially, I believe the state can help us with that.

And I have every intention of making sure that that happens.

And the money that could go into the hands of a majority of Georgians doesn't end up in the hands of only the wealthy.

We deserve better.

Thank you.

Geoff Duncan is next.

Thank you.

Donna.

You know, it's been nearly 30 years since the Democrats won the governor's race in Georgia, and we can all come up with complicated reasons why that is.

But to be governor in Georgia, you've got to win more than the base.

I'm building that coalition of Democrats, independents, and yes, even disgusted Republicans to not just win a primary, but to win a general election for the first time in nearly 30 years.

I'm staying laser focused on three issues the affordability crisis, the health care crisis, and the Donald Trump crisis.

Even Republicans wake up worried about those same three things every single day.

My journey here looks a lot different than all of these individuals.

My journey here started as a Republican, and now I'm standing here as a proud Democrat with the best toolkit I've ever had, a toolkit that's allowing me to better understand why we need to expand Medicaid, why we need to reform the heartbeat bill and repeal it, and why we need to take common sense decisions around around gun legislation.

Look, this journey has taken me to the DNC to speak on behalf of Kamala Harris.

It's taken me on the campaign trail, and now it's proudly taking me here to run for governor.

As a proud Democrat.

Thank you.

Jason Esteves.

Please introduce yourself.

Thank you so much, Donna, and good evening everyone.

My name is Jason Estevez and I am proud to be running to be governor of the State of Georgia.

I know that Georgians are sick and tired of working harder than they've ever worked and barely getting by.

And it's because of the politics and politicians like Donald Trump and my opponents, both Republicans and Democrats, that have failed us.

And in times of crisis, I've always run towards the fight.

And that's what I'm going to do as governor of this state.

I'm from Columbus, Georgia, raised by two parents who didn't go to college, but they taught me everything that I need to know to love my God, to work hard at everything that I did, and to leave my community better than how I found it.

Those are the values that I've taken with me as a middle school social studies teacher, as chair of the Atlanta School Board, and as a state senator.

And those are the values that will guide me as governor.

I'll focus in on what matters the most your health, your wealth, and your opportunities.

I look forward to this discussion, and I look forward to earning your vote.

Thank you.

Derrick Jackson, it's your turn.

Thank you.

Donna.

Georgia, we need a governor that's going to lead and fight for all of us.

My name is Derek Jackson.

I'm the state representative serving my tenth year.

But my service did not start here.

I started in 1983 when I joined the United States Navy, and after seven deployments for combat missions, two special operations, one humanitarian and 22 years of honorable service, I retired as a lieutenant commander.

I'm the only military vet that's running for governor.

But after I retired, I went into corporate America for ten years.

And that's when you look at it all.

That's 42 years of leadership, experience and service.

John Lewis said it best when you see something not right, not fair and unjust, we got a moral obligation to do something.

And that's why I'm running for governor, because we got a serious challenges.

Health care, affordability, public education, and yes, our constitutional rights are under attack.

And last but not least, when I'm governor, we're going to be the number one state for families, not business.

Thank you.

Mike Thurman, please introduce yourself.

Thank you.

Donna.

I'm Mike Thurman, I'm a husband and a father.

And I was born and raised in rural Georgia.

But I'm running for governor, not for me, but for you.

I'm running for those millions of Georgians who are working one and 2-3 jobs and still unable to purchase insurance to put a roof over their head and to provide for their families.

I'm running for those hard working Georgians who just need a state government that's there for them and not for the wealthy.

I sent out my prayers to those men and women in southeast Georgia whose homes have been ruined by raging fires.

I reach out to those 500,000 Georgians who've lost their health insurance just this past week.

I am here for you, and I promise you this, Georgia, if you give me the opportunity, I will be a Georgia governor of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Thank you.

Thank you for the full set of debate rules, please visit Atlanta Press club.org.

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

Once again, you have 60s for your response.

Rahul.

Affordability.

I've heard most of you bring it up on the campaign trail.

Some of you even just brought it up in your opening introductions.

My question is, as governor, name one specific thing you would do, whether it's governor as as legislative action.

Action through an agency or action through the budget.

And how would you pay for that item?

Mike Thurman, You get the first response.

Thank you.

Rahul.

The first thing I would do, I will introduce legislation to cut the Georgia sales tax by 50%.

What we need to do is allow hardworking Georgians to keep the money.

They are earning.

The most regressive tax we have in Georgia is the sales tax.

It's literally taking money out of the pockets of men and women every day.

It is regressive and it is painful.

And it's a burden that we should live.

So the first thing I would do is introduce legislation to cut the Georgia sales tax in half.

Cutting that sales tax in half would be an immediate raise for men and women all across the state of Georgia.

All right.

Thank you very much, Jeff Duncan.

You're next.

Affordability is literally a crisis for everybody, whether you own the business or you're living, check to check.

Affordability is hammering everybody and nobody's talking about it, especially Donald Trump.

I want to take 10% of our state's rainy day fund, which sits at around $17 billion, take 10%, $1.7 billion.

Put it in what I'm calling a jumpstart fund to start wrapping around the axle of poverty to better fund the Caps program so those single parents can go back to work and be able to afford child care, better fund and rework the TANF program so that we can help meet temporary needs.

We need to scale up affordable housing programs like Mayor Dickens and Mayor Van Johnson in Savannah and others across our state.

And we also need to figure out this work with the legislature to expand Medicaid.

Look, I've explored every route possible to improve our state's health care system, and you can't do it without expanding Medicaid.

I will take this jumpstart fund, this $1.7 billion, and not give a handout, but make an investment into hardworking Georgians.

Thank you.

Olu Beau Brown, it's your turn to respond.

It's all about health care.

I'm a small business owner, and as of January of this year, our family's monthly health care premium is now more than our monthly mortgage.

It is catastrophic for our family and catastrophic for families across Georgia.

As your next governor, I'll use a portion of our surplus to initiate the Premium relief fund, giving families like mine and families like yours a 15% discount on your monthly insurance premium.

Georgians can't wait for legislation to be passed.

They need a CEO who acts right now.

And as your next governor, I will make sure we act now on your behalf to make health care more affordable.

In addition to expanding Medicaid, in addition to propping up our rural health care system, we have to give people relief right now for their monthly health insurance, or they'll walk off the rolls.

Thank you.

Amanda Duffy, it's your turn.

I believe the way that we tackle affordability in this state particular, is to switch back to a graduated tax system.

Basically what that means is going back to a tiered bracket system.

The problem that we had before it got changed to a flat rate tax system was that the maximum amount was 10,000 annually.

That is unrealistic in today's day and age.

As far as what incomes people take home.

We need to update those brackets and tax accordingly because everyone being taxed at the same percentage, regardless of whether you make 50,000 annually or 250,000 annually, get taxed at the same percent.

I don't believe that's fair.

Thank you.

Keisha Lance bottoms is next.

The affordability issue is a topic that comes up with every single stop that I've made across this state.

One of the things that I know that we can do immediately is to invest in infrastructure and administrative support for rural counties, especially.

I've heard this from home builders who've said it's more challenging for them to build affordable and workforce housing in rural communities because of the lack of infrastructure and the lack of consistency in trying to get things such as building permits.

Secondly, it's said that health is wealth.

Medicaid expansion is the number one priority.

On day one, I'll make sure that our state agencies are prepared to expand Medicaid in the state.

We have nine rural hospitals that have closed in this state.

Also making sure that we raise eligibility in this state to 138% of the poverty level.

Thank you.

Derrick Jackson, please respond.

Thank you.

Donna.

Listen, I'm going to use my own family as an example.

I'm currently taking care of my 89-year-old aunt.

So we got a cat medicine cause we also my wife and I, we have seven amazing young adult children, four girls and three boys.

And so we got to make sure that we have a minimum wage so that my seven children and your children can afford and have access to this economy.

Our minimum wage right now is $5.15.

And for those who work in a in a restaurant, $2.13.

And so I've already introduced legislation to go from $5.15 to $20.

And once you go there, you have an opportunity to have access to this economy.

So we got to look at not just one size fit all because what's affordable to you may not be affordable to me.

Urban, suburban, rural.

We got to make sure we ask the question.

And so that way our teachers are not working two or three jobs.

Our nurses are not working two or three jobs.

We need to make sure that we have an economy.

So all families, yours and mine have access to this economy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jason Esteves, it's your turn to respond.

Georgians see what's happening in Trump's economy.

Billionaires and special interests are lining their pockets while you pay the bill.

What I would make sure we do is that we take the tax handouts that are currently going to data centers, about $2.5 billion in the state of Georgia, and put that money in your pockets where that where that belongs.

That's a little bit over $500 per taxpayer.

I would also work with cities and counties to cut property taxes.

It's something that I did as a state senator, where I worked with the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education to give seniors in the city of Atlanta up to $1,000 off of their property tax bill.

I also want to make sure that people have the opportunity to build their own wealth, starting with housing, stopping private equity funds from buying up all of our single family homes, but also working all across the state to build affordable housing and most importantly, supporting our small business owners, making sure that they have the support and the capital that they need to open and grow throughout this great state.

Thank you.

Our panel will now ask a question to an individual candidate.

We'll start with Chuck Williams asking a question for Derrick Jackson.

Once again, you have 60s for a response.

Representative Jackson.

Georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country.

You and everyone on this stage wants to expand Medicaid immediately.

If Republicans maintain control of the General Assembly, how would you pass that and fund it without straining the state's budget?

Yeah.

Thank you for the question, Chuck.

So we have to start with Medicaid expansion.

I mean, right now we have a health care crisis.

Just three years ago, 169 women died right here in Georgia.

And not just in urban areas, but suburban and rural areas as well.

And so what we have to do is make sure that Republicans and Democrats understand the gravity of what's happening.

25 years ago, we had 12 counties experiencing more deaths than births.

Today.

94 counties experienced more deaths than births.

So we got to make it real for both parties to understand the gravity of the situation.

And then we're sitting on a $14.3 billion surplus.

So let's take at least 2 billion of those dollars and infuse it to keep these hospitals closing from closing.

There are 13 hospitals on the brink of closing right now.

And so once we do that and we'll come to a consensus between Republicans and Democrats, those who have been serving with for the last ten years and say, look at the gravity of this situation.

Women are dying.

A month ago, we just got an F minus.

Let's make Georgia the number one state for families.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Raul Bailey, please ask a question for Jeff Duncan.

Lieutenant governor, you were the presiding officer in 2019 when the state's current six week, roughly six week abortion ban was passed, something you support, something you shepherded through the legislature.

You've talked about on the campaign trail, how you've changed on this issue.

But when I talk to voters, there's still a question of believing in that or trusting that change.

Can you address Democratic voters, especially those where this is an important issue to them on that change?

And why should they trust and believe that.

I was wrong to think a room full of state senators knew better than millions of women on this particular issue, I was wrong, I was wrong, and when I started to hear the complicated medical stories, the deep personal situations, it became abundantly clear that women absolutely deserve the right to choose between themselves, their faith, their family, and their physicians.

And I've made promises in every room I've walked into that day.

One, I will sign an executive order that clarifies doctors can practice medicine without fear of prosecution.

And also we'll introduce legislation to repeal the six week ban and meet millions of women where they want us to.

I think there's enough Republicans that believe in this, too.

And I think that's part of this story for me.

This isn't just about winning an election.

This is about governing.

Well, I feel like we can build consensus in the state capital with even Republicans that want to do the right thing and repeal this six week ban.

I think we can also talk about guns and other issues like expanding Medicaid.

There are Republicans out there that don't want to cuddle up to Donald Trump.

I think they're willing and able to do the right thing.

I look forward to building that coalition.

Thank you.

Chuck, it's your turn to ask Keisha Lance bottoms.

Thank you, Mayor Bottoms, during a news conference when you announced that you would not be seeking reelection as Atlanta's mayor, you said you began to feel the first year in office that you might not run again, given that statement, how can Georgia voters know you will be committed to the job of governor?

Thank you, Chuck.

When I made that statement, what I was referencing was, I guess what some might call intuition.

I didn't know that I wouldn't seek a second term, but I felt that perhaps one term would be it for me.

But I can tell you this.

I ran through the tape as mayor of Atlanta, leaving the city of Atlanta with $180 million in the bank, balancing our budget for four years in a row, giving police officers and firefighters historic pay raises, creating 7-0 0-0 units of affordable housing, creating a child savings account.

It is the same energy and effort that I will give to being governor of this state.

I'm very proud of my service as Mayor of Atlanta and if elected governor of this state, I'll keep families in mind working to make sure that their lives are better, making sure that in the midst of this Donald Trump chaos, that we are all experiencing, that I will do everything in my power to fight on behalf of the people of Georgia.

Thank you.

Rahul.

You may ask Mike Thurman.

Commissioner, I actually wanted to follow up something you talked about in your opening statement.

This idea of cutting the cutting the state sales tax in half, uh, I think my main question, there was a big debate at the state Capitol of go after income tax versus going after sales tax, or even telling how counties and cities do property tax, why sales tax over the other two.

Well, first of all, we are witnessing a historic shift of wealth from working class Georgians to wealthy Georgians.

You know, because you're a tax expert that the sales tax is the most aggressive tax.

And so by cutting a property tax and cutting income tax and then shifting it to the sales tax, which was the plan of the Republican leadership, you're putting a tax burden on the people who can afford it the least.

What I'm going to do is put this government back in the hands of Georgians.

I'm going to get the hand out of the pocket of hard working men and women.

Look, the sales tax is egregious and it's unfair.

Not only are we going to cut the sales tax in half, I'm going to eliminate the tampon tax.

Georgia is one of the few states in in America that still taxing feminine hygiene products is unfair.

And I'm a I'm a girl dad.

And I tell you this, I promise Michael, we're going to get rid of that horrendous tax on feminine hygiene products.

Thank you.

Chuck, it's your turn to ask Olu Brown.

Thank you, Pastor Brown.

After 25 years in the ministry, including founding and growing Impact United Methodist Church into a megachurch, you've described politics and pastoring as both being all about people.

In an era where religion plays an increasingly visible and polarized role in American politics, how do you see evolving relationship, the evolving relationship between faith and public policy?

Thank you.

For me, my faith and my faith background gives me a leg up as a person running for governor.

My faith informs me that all of us are human, and we have to treat each other as equal.

That's why I'm fighting for the rights of women, so that folks who aren't making choices about their bodies.

That's why I'm fighting for the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

That's why I'm fighting for working class communities and fighting to make sure our unions are protected.

And that's why I'm fighting for a senior that I just met a couple of days ago, who retired and is working an extra job, and he gave me a new phrase.

He said, Olu, I am income poor as a senior.

So I believe my faith and my background as a faith leader of having to work with all different people, cultures, races and nationalities.

And there are no greater divides than religious divides.

And I believe as your next governor, I'll do what I've always done build coalitions, treat people as human beings.

And at the end of the day, every decision I make will be best for Georgia.

Thank you.

Rahul.

You may ask Jason Estevez.

Senator, you in your opening statement brought up reaching out to cities and counties about property taxes.

That whole debate at the state Capitol.

As a former senator, you know that they have a strong voice at the Capitol counties and cities.

They pushed back pretty hard on some of the property tax proposals, saying this is where our money comes from, roughly about $6 billion.

How do you address local and city governments who deliver those services who say we need that money to do the to deliver those services.

Absolutely.

Look when I was in the legislature I was proud to work with Atlanta Public Schools to provide a targeted tax relief measure for seniors who were being gentrified out of their homes.

And because of the work that we did, seniors across the city are receiving $1,000 off of their property taxes.

And at the same time, Atlanta Public Schools is able to continue to provide the services to the students across the city.

I would do the same thing working across the state with cities and counties, to ensure that they are able to provide the same services, but also provide needed relief.

The other thing I would do is to provide those cities and counties the tools that they need to fight back against some of these commercial property owners and companies that are not paying their fair share.

And the reality is the burden of taxes, especially when it comes to property taxes across the state, are being borne by residential property owners.

And I want to make sure we're giving those cities and counties the tools that they need to go more aggressively to ensure that commercial properties are appraised at the appropriate value.

Thank you.

Chuck, please ask the last question of this round for Amanda Duffy.

Thank you, Miss Duffy.

You're an accountant.

And in your opening statement, you talked about proposing drastic changes to the state's income tax structure.

How do you plan to accomplish that?

We need to fix the update.

The tax brackets from what they were before the flat rock, before the flat rate tax system was put into effect.

Right now, we're at a 5.19% income tax for everyone across the state.

If we can go back to a graduated tax system and update those brackets to accurately represent current income, what people actually make, then I believe we have a fighting chance at keeping the budget balanced and simultaneously helping put money back in the pockets of Georgians.

Thank you.

That concludes our first round.

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

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

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

Jeff Duncan, you get the first question for one of your opponents.

Thank you so much.

My question is for Jason Estevez.

And obviously, campaigns are a contact sport, and you and I both know that you've made a foundational piece of your campaign around attacking me every chance you get, whether it be social media, in speeches, and everything in between.

But I think we all have to agree that a Democrat has got to win this race.

If a if a Republican wins, it's trouble.

My my question is this if I'm able to be the nominee for us Democrats, will you support me and vote for me in the general election?

Thank you for that question.

And look, I'll support whoever the nominee is.

I just believe that the people of this great state are going to nominate me.

And the reality is, is that when you look at your transformation, and I appreciate that you have joined the Democratic Party, the question is not about the transformation.

The question is about your record.

And the reality is you've you oversaw some of the worst legislation that we've seen in the last decade, whether you are talking about campus carry or the abortion ban or voter suppression laws, Georgians have been impacted by that, and Democrats are concerned with someone who joins the party in.

A month later says they should be the nominee for the highest office in this state.

You don't join a church, and then the next month say that you want to be senior pastor.

We've been taught long ago that when people show you who they are, you believe them.

And until you show us something, otherwise, we can't believe you on that.

Thank you.

Jeff Duncan, your rebuttal 30s.

Your answer is unfortunate but expected, and it still promotes a problem.

I think we all have to realize that if if a Republican wins this race, Donald Trump will literally have an office at the state Capitol.

And so I stand here and pledge to any one of you that is the nominee.

I will vote for you, and I will support you in the nomination and the election in November.

Thank you.

Keisha Lance Bottoms please ask a question of one of your opponents.

This question is for Representative Jackson on issues of reproductive freedom, voting rights, Medicaid expansion.

Continuously, Republican leaders have gotten it wrong in this state.

What do you feel voters should use as their litmus test in evaluating leaders in this campaign season?

Yeah, thank you for the question, Madam Mayor.

Listen, uh, just look at what's been happening the last 30 years under Republican rule.

There's a problem where we just received an F minus for Georgia women's health.

When women are dying.

Three years ago, 169 women died.

If that was a plane crash, we would have stopped everything.

But what did Georgia do?

We just kept on going because 169 women died, 772 children died.

Why?

Because there's this bill that was just mentioned of a person that was a the lieutenant governor at the time.

We got to stop this madness.

And so, Georgia, we have to have a Democratic governor this time to fix these problems.

So that way 82 counties without an ob gyn, we can have an ob gyn and 67 counties do not have a pediatrician.

So, yes, Madam Mayor, you're exactly right.

We got to fix this problem, and it's going to take a Democrat to fix it.

Mayor bottoms.

He's absolutely right.

Republicans have gotten it wrong.

And even some who are participating in this primary have gotten it wrong on this issue.

We have to make sure that we are electing leaders who are keeping Georgians health at top, top of mind, making sure that we are electing leaders who aren't concerned about politics but are concerned about the future that we are creating for families across this state.

Thank you.

Derrick Jackson, it's your turn to ask a question.

Thank you.

Donna, my question is for Jeff Duncan.

This is quite simple.

Why do you feel like you're entitled to when you were kicked out of your party eight months, nine months ago, whenever it was to come over to the Democratic Party and run for governor when you have not done the work, there was a lot of pain that you created while you were in office.

During your 4.5 years in the House and your four years as a lieutenant governor, lieutenant governor.

And I'm getting choked up because as a father of four daughters and three sons, you have made this a disaster.

And so I want to know, why do you feel like you're entitled to run for governor as a Democrat?

Well, I certainly wouldn't describe anything that I'm doing as entitled.

I'm working as hard as everybody else is on this stage.

My job is to not just earn somebody's vote.

It's to earn their trust.

And I certainly have gotten some issues wrong in the past, and I'm open and honest about that discussion.

I don't talk about excuses.

I don't say I hit the wrong button or I read the wrong memo.

I made mistakes, and as lieutenant governor, as I mentioned, I was wrong to to support the heartbeat bill.

I was wrong as an early young legislator to to push against common sense gun legislation and expand Medicaid.

But the reality is this we've got to win.

And I've been living out loud for six years, six years.

Our family has taken a lot of a lot of heat for this, and it's one I'm grateful for my family standing in support of me, and we're driven by this motto, doing the right thing.

We'll never be the wrong thing, and doing the right thing meant speaking at the DNC, writing opinion columns, standing up and admitting when I was wrong.

I'm not entitled to anything.

I hope to win this race not just for me, but for 11 million Georgians.

Representative Jackson, your rebuttal.

With all due respect, ladies and gentlemen, you got to follow not what someone say, but follow their policies.

When you go and look at his book, GOP 2.0, right.

There's a problem with that.

And so I heard your answer.

A sorry, cannot bring back those 169 women that died.

I'm sorry.

He's not going to bring back those 772 children died within the first 12 months of living.

Sorry, he's not going to do that.

We need someone that's going to be honest.

And and the only way you can demonstrate that honesty, especially to the Democratic base, which are black men and black women, you have to make sure you got to do the work.

And right now we don't see it.

Thank you very much.

Amanda Duffy, your next to ask a question.

My question is for Mr.

Estevez.

The current salary for the governor position is 185 000 annually.

My question is, would you take the complete salary if elected?

Uh, yes.

And the the reason for that is that, uh, I'm not wealthy.

I'm not Rick Jackson or Burt Jones, and I am a parent of two young children and a husband of my wife, Ariel.

And I would take the salary, but I would also make sure that I work with the legislature to address the salaries of people across the state.

Whether you are working for a state agency, I'm going to make sure that we're investing in in pay raises for you.

And if you are a hourly worker in this state, I'm going to work to increase the minimum wage, which right now is a criminal $5.15 an hour.

I want to make sure that we increase that to at least $15 an hour.

And that's just a starting point.

So at the end of the day, I'm going to make sure that I work each and every day to lower the cost of living, but also to increase wages for people all across the state, regardless of who you work for.

Miss Duffy.

The median household income is roughly $75,000 annually for households in Georgia, there's roughly 70% of Georgian households bringing home under $100,000 annually.

I have no intention of taking the salary of the governorship.

Thank you, Jason Estevez.

You may now ask a question to one of your opponents.

Thank you, mayor.

I served on the Atlanta School board for almost a decade and teaching our kids and keeping them safe is a top priority.

Sequoia Turner, who attended Atlanta Public Schools while I was chair, was shot and killed.

After you let gang members take over blocks of Atlanta and told police not to intervene, what do you believe?

Would you change in the actions that you took as mayor?

The death of any child is especially heartbreaking.

As a mother of four, I felt the death of Sequoyah Turner deeply, but it is unfortunate that as a leader in education, as you claim to be, that you would lie.

You have lied, Mr.

Estevez.

I did not allow gangs to take over blocks.

We lived through 2020 together.

It was the most trying time in recent history in our country.

Atlanta and cities across this nation were grappling with protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

I made every decision that I thought was the best decision at that time.

But you cannot have the death of a child, of any child and not wonder what, if anything, you could have done differently.

Senator Estevez.

Yeah, look, I encourage people to look at the facts for yourself.

Look at what happened when gang members took over a couple blocks of the city of Atlanta, and a little girl was murdered as a result.

And police did not do anything at all.

And they will tell you it's because they were instructed not to.

And as a result, the mayor is a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit, one that she's going to have to defend during the course of this campaign.

And given the serious times that we are in, Democrats cannot afford to risk that.

Thank you.

Mike Thurman, please ask a question to one of your opponents.

Having served in office for many years.

Uh, Mayor Bottoms and I, what was one decision?

We served together during the most difficult time, I think, in the history of this country during the Covid pandemic.

Looking back on that, what decision that you made, looking back, that you might consider to be a mistake today?

Um, Mr.

Thurman, we, we did, we were side by side during 2020.

And during my four years in office, I would say the biggest leadership lesson that I learned was from the African proverb that says, when you want to go fast, go alone.

When you want to go far, take others.

Uh, in many ways, there were often times that I worked alone, uh, not realizing that it's important to make sure that everyone, including other leaders, have buy in.

We often think expediency is the best course of action, but quite often it's sometimes it's often, quite often more than just expediency.

It's about collaboration.

And I collaborated quite a bit when I was mayor, but if there's anything I could do differently would be to lean in even more in that area.

Thank you, Commissioner Thurman.

It's fine.

Great answer.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Olu Brown, you ask the last question for this round to an opponent.

What is the Geoff Duncan?

I've gotten to know you on the campaign trail, and we know some of your legislative history related to the heartbeat bill has created some traumatic and catastrophic occurrences in local and individual households.

But I want to take it a step further.

I've been meeting with a lot of folks from the LGBTQ+ community, and even having conversations with trans individuals.

Very recently, you haven't spoken up about what you would do as governor if elected to protect that very vulnerable community.

Giving your history as a Republican and your faith input on that, what would you do to protect the communities?

Yeah.

One of the reasons why I stand here as a proud Democrat is because as a Republican, when you love your neighbor, at least in my experience, was there was asterisk marks.

And if your neighbor didn't look like you act like you love like you, talk like you or vote like you, you really weren't called to love on them.

And that didn't sit well with my faith.

And the LGBTQ community is one that deserves the rights that everybody deserves.

They deserve the right to not be discriminated.

They deserve the right to be included in any sort of legislative priorities that are at the state Capitol.

I stood strong with the hate crimes legislation, worked alongside the community, and will continue to do so.

Look, I've watched enough mail pieces come out with these issues demonized and polarized and politicized and every other eyes from Republicans.

And that's what this is about.

This is not about making a point.

This is about making a difference.

And, you know, at the end of the day, I want to lead by example.

The leaders that I respect the most are the ones that lead by example.

And as governor, I will have the most diverse governor's cabinet and state government of any governor in the history of this state.

Thank you.

Thank you for your response.

As a pastor, I can tell you officiating over the services of suicide victims is some of the hardest experience you'll ever live in your life.

And we know statistically, suicide rates among teenagers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are higher.

I want you to know, as your next governor, I will veto any legislation that tries to deny the rights of Georgians who are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

And as your next governor, I apologize on behalf of our legislators who have done harm to you.

Okay.

We ask that your questions be group individual and not group questions.

But we are you are watching the Democratic primary debate for governor of Georgia.

We'll now go to the panel who will ask questions to the candidate of their choice.

Until we run out of time.

And I will exercise moderator privilege and ask the first question.

Georgia's education system has been shaped for years by Republican priorities.

What's one education policy, a policy you would immediately undo?

And what would you replace it with to reflect a democratic vision for education?

And I'll start with you.

Um, Jeff Duncan.

Thank you for the question.

Um, education is the rising tide that lifts all boats.

We know that economically, we know that socially we know that in all shapes and fashions.

And so we've got this 42-year-old funding formula that in a bipartisan way, people are disgruntled with it.

It's 42-years-old.

It's called QBE, and it doesn't take into account modern transportation techniques, modern technology innovations, poverty, you name it.

It doesn't take it into account or even inflation.

And so we've got to work across the aisle to pass a refunding bill for a reforming bill for QBE.

And we need to start turning teacher salaries in away from being just a job and back into being a career.

Teachers are spending their entire young adult going to college, racking up debt, being able to to come into school as being a teacher.

And we've got to make sure we stand strong with them.

It's one of the most troubling statistics I hear.

I heard is lieutenant Governor, was that our corrections system builds a number of prisons based upon third grade reading levels.

We know the problem.

We need to focus on the problem and start with reforming the funding formula.

Thank you, Senator Estevez.

Yes, I would certainly not send public tax dollars to private institutions and support the private voucher system that Republicans have been championing the last few years.

And instead, I would bring universal child care to the state of Georgia, ensuring that we strengthen our early learning program.

By the end of my first term, I would ensure that all 3-4 year olds across this state have access to child care.

That not only helps ensure that those babies have the building blocks that they need to learn how to read, write, and do math.

It would eliminate our literacy crisis where 70% of our children are not reading on grade level by the time they reach fourth grade.

But here's the other thing that universal child care would do.

It would allow those parents who find child care to be extremely unaffordable in this state, to be able to afford to go to work, which means that they could drop their kids off at a safe place while they put food and a roof over their head.

It's incredibly important that at a time like this, we be bold about making childcare more affordable for all.

Thank you, Representative Jackson.

You know, the very first thank you for the question, Donna.

The very first thing we need to do is revise this QBE formula, not just revise it, but add a poverty weight to it.

There's no reason why our third graders right now are reading.

62% of them are not at reading level.

70% of our fourth graders are not at their reading level.

And so we got to make sure that the QBE formula is not only updated, we cannot be shackled by this 1985 formula to create a 21st century.

But we also got to make sure that bills like Senate Bill 82, that takes the money from public education and then divert it to vouchers or charter school.

And that's the reason why I have a problem with Senator former Senator Jason Estevez.

He voted yes on Senate Bill 82.

Senate Bill 82 is going to take $180 million out of public education.

So we cannot continue to ask our teachers to do the right thing, tie their hands behind their back.

And then, unfortunately, these kind of bills, these kind of bills are are siphoning money from our public education.

So we got to make sure we do the right thing.

Thank you, Senator Estevez, do you want to rebuttal?

Yeah, I voted yes on a bill that encourages school districts to provide parents with options.

I am fortunate when I was in Columbus, Georgia, to attend Columbus High School, which is a magnet school.

It's a it's an option.

It's a school choice option for public school students.

And just like a career technology school would be an option for public school kids, I want to make sure that Georgia students across the state have more options that fit their needs.

And at the same time supports the public education system.

I see nothing wrong with that.

Okay.

Thank you, Commissioner Thurman.

Thank you.

When I'm elected, the next governor of Georgia, I'll be the first former school superintendent to be served as governor of our state.

I'm standing here as a living testament to the power of public education.

The son of an illiterate Georgia farmer who, with family and love and great teachers was able to move from literally a dirt road to standing here as one of the men and women who might be the next state of governor of the state of Georgia.

What I'm going to do is fully fund QBE.

We must wait poverty, but we have to do something else.

We have to celebrate those teachers who are working in difficult situations.

In title one schools.

We must celebrate achievement and growth equally.

We have to make sure that our teachers are safe in the classrooms.

And also we have to engage our parents.

A child's first teacher is the parent.

I will help create that environment.

Thank you, Mayor Bottoms.

The current state funding formula was written while I was still in the marching band at Frederick Douglass High School.

Since then, it's only been fully funded.

Education has only been fully funded three times in this state.

We must fully fund education in this state.

I would also like for us to begin school at kindergarten.

Mandatory kindergarten, and not first grade.

As it currently stands, I want to fully fund pre-K for every child in this state.

I will ask voters to vote on casino gambling in this state as an opportunity for additional funding revenue.

In the same way the lottery change, education funding in this state, the Trump administration has cut $223 million from our budget.

Lastly, free technical and community college in this state.

My mother went back to cosmetology school when I was young to help care for her family.

It is a difference maker.

Thank you, Pastor Brown.

As your next governor, I'll be the public education champion.

My mother was my fourth grade school teacher.

My undergraduate degree is in education, and I have a lifetime teaching certificate for grades one through eight.

I remember my mother sitting on the couch as a single parent with two degrees, with a checkbook and tears in her eyes because there was never enough.

Yes, we must address the funding formula.

Yes, we must address school safety.

But our teachers have been left behind and we have to pay our educators more first.

We're number one in SEC football, but we're last in teacher, first time compensation will create a baseline of $50,000.

Starter teacher compensation.

And for our veteran teachers, we will eliminate your state income tax, giving you an immediate 3,500 to $4,000 raise.

But we'll look at the whole education ecosystem for folks who are in the cafeteria, bus drivers, custodians, and we will mandate pay raises across the board for the ecosystem because education has to come first in Georgia.

Thank you, Miss Duffy.

Education is a big part of my platform in particular because I'm a daughter of two teachers, and my tiny humans are about to start kindergarten in the fall.

I believe that updating the QBE formula is a short term solution to help fund rural schools, but long term, I believe students and teachers are both struggling with stress levels because of the issues with curriculum.

We have changed curriculums over the years and there is no one size fits all curriculum for any school system anywhere, because everyone learns differently.

And if we can focus on customizing to the best of our ability from a public standpoint, curriculums that will offer a two path system for learning for students and have that be our starting point.

I believe that is the goal.

Along with implementing a social emotional learning piece that will help with preventative bullying.

Thank you.

Believe it or not, that's all the time we have for questions.

The candidates will now have 60s for a closing statement.

Jason Estevez, let's start with you.

Thank you so much, Donna.

And y'all, if you're tired of the old politics and the politicians that got us into these crises in the first place, then I'm asking you for your support to support a new generation of leadership, one that is laser focused on delivering results.

And as governor, I'm going to focus each and every day on lowering the cost of living, expanding access to health care, fighting for our democracy, and investing in our children.

I'll focus on what matters the most your health, your wealth, and your opportunities.

I'm the only I'm the only candidate in this race that is building a multigenerational, multiracial coalition that can not only win the primary, but can win the general election in November.

I want you to join our team.

Follow me on social media at Jason Esteves and visit my website, Jason esteves.com.

Let's go win this thing.

Thank you.

Geoff Duncan, it's your turn.

You know, over the last six years, I get asked this question almost every day.

You know, what is your motivation?

Where do you get your strength to stand up and do what you're doing?

Because it's not been easy and it really goes around our family motto of doing the right thing will never be the wrong thing.

It's really the cornerstone piece of Brooke and I's home.

As we're raising our three boys and doing the right thing meant standing up to Donald Trump, as I did in the 2020 election.

But doing the right thing was speaking at the DNC and campaigning with Kamala Harris, and stepping out in front of some of these issues that I got wrong.

It's also standing here as a proud Democrat.

You know, as I travel, the state Democrats aren't asking me why I used to be a Republican, but they're asking me is how do we win?

How do we turn this tide?

For the first time in nearly 30 years?

And we win by working hard, by staying on point, by staying on message.

We can't just win an election.

We need to govern well once we win.

And if we do this right, we won't just lead ourselves here in Georgia, we'll literally lead an entire country in a better direction.

My job today isn't to just earn your vote, which I would love to do.

My job today is to earn your trust.

Duncan for georgia.com.

Would love to hear your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Amanda Duffy, you're next.

I am a very nontraditional candidate.

I am not like these very intimidating people next to me, but I am the person that is currently living in the financial struggle.

That is the lower middle class.

It is difficult to make the sacrifices that we have to make.

Being at the bottom, and I have every intention of rebalancing the scales of wealth in this state, because we deserve better and our children deserve better.

Thank you.

Keisha Lance Bottoms.

You're up.

I've worn many professional hats.

Senior advisor to the president, mayor, city Council member and judge.

But the most important title that I will ever have is as mother.

And I think about the state that I want my children to be able to call home.

I am running not just for my family, but for yours as well.

I met a woman as I was walking into the building who shared her story of recovery and how we created a program that allowed her to receive addiction treatment.

She now has permanent housing, and she now attends meetings weekly.

These are the type concrete changes that we need to have happen across this state.

When I was mayor of Atlanta, I fought on behalf of Atlanta, but I also fought on behalf of all Georgians, and it is what I will do each and every day as I wake up as governor of this state, because not only will I be fighting for my family, but yours as well.

Thank you.

Derrick Jackson, you're next.

Thank you.

Donna.

Listen, Georgia, who our next governor is, is so important, not just for 2026, not just for 2028, but 2030 as well.

Experience matters.

Leadership matters.

And we see this each and every day.

When you look at the federal government level.

You just heard a lot of conversation this afternoon, and one in particular said he doesn't have a problem with Senate Bill 82, just $160 million from public education and diverting it somewhere and saying those are options.

Here's the problem.

If we do not get this right, Georgia, we have to get this right, because the Georgia Constitution says you need a commander in chief and a chief executive.

And so I'm I'm asking you all to go to vote.

Rick jackson.org.

And you see my extensive resume, 22 years in the military, retired as a lieutenant commander, ten years in corporate America and ten years as a state legislator.

That's 42 years of leadership experience and service.

And so we got some big, serious problems.

So when you go to vote.

Derrick Jackson, you don't see talking points.

I'm not hiding behind some polls or manufactured polls.

We need to get this done.

Georgia.

And I'm asking you for your vote.

Thank you.

Olu Brown, it's your turn.

Georgia, tonight, you heard a lot of political talk, but talk is cheap.

We need action.

And that's why you need a builder who takes actions and solves complex problems.

Action to expand Medicaid and make health care more affordable in Georgia.

And to protect the health care in our rural communities so that they stay vital.

Action to make sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education and we start teacher compensation at $50,000 and action to ensure that no woman in Georgia loses her right to choose her decisions for her own body.

Friends, to do that, you need a governor who's a builder, who is not afraid to make tough decisions, to build coalitions, and ultimately to take action.

I hope you join this building team and to do it, go to Olafur g.com.

Together, we can build a healthier, more vital and hopeful Georgia for all of us.

I need your vote.

I need your support.

And after we win on day one, we'll go to work.

Thank you.

Mike Thurman, you get the final statement.

I'm Mike Thurman.

I'm working hard to be your next governor.

It's promises versus performance.

I've helped over 300,000 Georgians find jobs as the labor commissioner helped 90,000 welfare dependent Georgia families move from independence, from dependance to independence.

We saved the third largest school district in the state of Georgia from losing its accreditation.

We turned deficits into surpluses in DeKalb County.

But more than this, I offer you a bold new vision for Georgia, a Georgia not separated by North or south urban, rural or suburban.

A Georgia not separated by Republicans or Democrats.

I offer you a vision of one Georgia, one great Georgia for one great people, a Georgia that will offer education to all of our children, regardless of zip code.

One Georgia, one America.

That is, if we pledge that it will be our entire lives.

One Georgia, one America that is under God, indivisible, and that will offer liberty, justice, and economic opportunity for all.

Thank you.

Early voting starts today, April 27 and runs through May 15th.

Election day is Tuesday, May 19.

We thank all the candidates and our panel of journalists.

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

I'm Donna Lowry, thanks for joining us for the Atlanta Press Club.

Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.