Hello, everybody.

So glad you're with us.

I'm Brad means anchor and host from Wjbf TV in beautiful Augusta, Georgia, and we welcome you 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 author, M Blank Family Foundation and the Robert Charles Loudermilk Senior Foundation.

This is the debate for candidates running for Georgia.

Commissioner of Labor.

We have two journalists.

I'm pleased to let you know who will question the candidates.

Emily Wu Pierson is the Immigration and communities reporter at WABE here in Atlanta.

Ross Williams is deputy editor at the Georgia Recorder.

And we're going to kick off today's debate by asking each of the candidates to introduce themselves and tell viewers and voters why they should be the next Georgia commissioner of Labor candidates.

You're going to have 60s for that introduction.

We're going to go in alphabetical order, starting with Barbara Rivera Holmes, miss Holmes.

I'm Barbara Rivera Holmes, and I'm honored to be your labor commissioner.

I'm a wife, a mother, an economic developer, and a first generation American whose family came to this country to live the American dream, protecting our freedom and the dignity of work is why I serve, because I know that a good job changes everything.

Since being appointed to this role by Governor Kemp, I've brought a business minded approach to state government.

I'm transforming and reforming the Georgia Department of Labor.

I'm building tomorrow's workforce today, and I'm making Georgia the top state for talent.

Georgians are still feeling squeezed by high prices and the best remedy is steady employment and a competitive wage.

We're at a critical point in our state's history, and we cannot afford to go backwards.

We're moving forwards, and I'm looking forward to tonight's discussion.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Commissioner Nikki Porcher, won't you please introduce yourself?

Yes.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series and Georgia Builders.

It's good to be back.

My name is Nikki Porcher and I'm running to be your next Georgia State Labor commissioner.

I'm a U.S.

Air Force veteran, former public school teacher, nonprofit founder, business advocate, mother.

But most importantly, I understand what the state looks like when work does not work for everyone.

Over the next 30 minutes, you'll hear more about my platform, why you should vote for me for Georgia Labor Commissioner, and how building a Georgia will work works for all of us is the only way we should actually go.

Thank you so much.

All right, thanks so much.

Off to a great start.

And folks, for the full set of debate rules, please visit Atlanta Press club.org.

Now our panel gets to ask a question to an individual candidate.

We're going to start with Emily Wu Pierson, who will pose a question to Nikki Porcher.

Once again, candidates, you have 60s for your response.

Emily.

Hi Miss Porcher as Labor Commissioner, what types of legislation would you push push for at the state House for and on behalf of Georgia workers.

Yes.

Thank you so much, Emily.

Nice to meet you again as Labor Commissioner for state House, there has been a number of bills that have died on the floor, including raising the minimum wage, working with our state legislators, our state senators is what I plan on doing as labor commissioner, making sure we're providing accurate data to ensure that when we're advocating for this wage, it makes this not just on the House floor, but also to Georgians everyday lives.

We should not have to actually fight for living wage in this state.

And the labor commissioner, I will be an advocate to ensure that that happens.

All right, Ross Williams, your turn this time.

A question for Barbara Rivera Holmes.

Thanks, Commissioner.

Georgia is consistently ranked as the top state to do business.

But that doesn't always mean the top state to be a worker in.

And people are struggling right now.

So do you think the state has done enough to benefit workers as opposed to owners?

And what specific policies would you like to institute designed to help workers rather than business owners?

Now, thank you for the question.

Georgia has a very strong economy, and it is the top state for talent for 13 consecutive years, and that hinges on our employment market.

We're becoming a top state for talent because we prioritize workers.

And we know that when Georgia's workers thrive, our states thrive.

As labor commissioner, I've been focused on expanding training partnerships that allow Georgians to earn world class skills and transition them into competitive wages.

Working with our lawmakers, working with our communities and our employers to move Georgia forward.

As we do that, we will continue to ensure that we have high demand programs, health care, advanced manufacturing, technology.

This is where jobs are growing in Georgia.

When we help Georgians gain these world class skills, translate them into competitive wages, they will continue to build Georgia as a top state for talent.

All right, Ross, we're going to stick with you.

How about a question this time around for Nikki Porcher.

Thank you.

In August, Georgia's unemployment rate was 3.2% compared to 4.1% for the nation as a whole.

And under previous Republican leadership, we've seen major companies like Hyundai move into the state or expand their holdings into the state.

So given this previous success, why should Georgians choose a new direction?

And what policies will you institute to help ensure that businesses keep wanting to be here?

Yes.

Ross.

So I'm going to just be honest with you and to the Georgia voters at home.

I don't trust the numbers.

Last August, we saw the national administration dismiss the head of BLS because the numbers were not favorable.

So to say that work is actually working in the state is a lie.

I have been traveling to this state over half of the state, 51% of the state in Georgia, workers are telling me that they cannot find jobs.

They cannot get help from the Department of Labor.

And the system is just not in place like it should be.

I don't know if the numbers I don't think the numbers are true.

I'll be honest with you.

In July, when we saw the numbers, it said that Georgia lost 9,200 of the number of jobs in the state on a national scale, 10,000 jobs for Georgia to lose.

So many of the national number, something has to be muddy in the water.

Commissioner, you want to take 30s to respond to that, that your office isn't doing enough to help Georgia workers.

Georgia's economy is very strong today.

We have record labor force participation, record employment.

Unemployment is down to the lowest point in 2.5 years, and we continue to grow jobs.

It's my job to know the data because I'm the labor commissioner and this is what I do.

We'll continue to advance opportunities for Georgians can connect to the new jobs that are being created, 25,000 in the last fiscal year, and $35 billion of new investment.

The job is to connect Georgians to opportunities, regardless of zip code.

Emily, how about the last question for this round?

Yours this time is going to go to Barbara Rivera Holmes again.

Commissioner, how do you see federal immigration policies impacting Georgia's workforce?

Thank you for this question.

This is something that's deeply personal to me as a first generation American whose family fled communist Cuba to live the American dream, people from all over the world come here because of freedom, because of personal liberty, because we can work with dignity.

And it's what attracts people from throughout the world.

But America is also a nation of laws and a nation without a secure border is not a nation at all.

I stand with federal partners, with our public safety and our law enforcement to ensure that legal, hardworking Georgians have opportunities in Georgia.

We must continue to keep our community safe, create opportunities for Georgians, and expand our labor force.

All right.

Well, hard to believe that concludes our first round.

Our time is flying by.

And now we move on to the portion of the program where each candidate gets a chance to ask a question to their opponent candidates.

You're going to have 30s to pose the question, 60s to respond, and the person who asked the question, if they so choose, gets a 32nd rebuttal.

Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes, please ask a question of Nikki Porcher.

Miss Porcher, Georgia's right to work law protects every worker's freedom to take a job without being forced to join a union or pay mandatory dues.

Throughout this campaign, you've courted big labor bosses.

Do you support Georgia's right to work laws, or do you stand with big labor bosses who want compulsory dues?

I stand with Georgia workers.

Miss Rivera Holmes, as a labor commissioner should, because Georgia workers come first.

When you say caught big labor bosses, I think you're referring to our union movements and our union workers here in this state that allow that we have safe workplaces, fair wages, and the actual support that workers need every day that they're not getting from the Department of Labor.

So, yes, I do support unions.

I do support Georgian workers, and I will fight to make sure that workers are first in this state.

Commissioner, you care to rebut that answer?

Georgia is an economic powerhouse because we protect our workers, and workers should have the freedom to choose whether they have to pay compulsory dues just to keep their jobs.

My opponent stands with far left agenda and labor bosses, and that far left agenda is taking in the Democratic state.

I stand for economic freedom, real economic growth and fighting back socialism and fighting back against government overreach.

I will always stand with Georgia's workers, protect our freedoms and stand with all small businesses.

Commissioner, when you talk about big labor bosses, are you talking about the people in charge of unions?

And are they bad people?

Georgia's economic framework thrives because we have the freedom to choose.

Workers have the freedom to choose.

There's an important role for unions in our state, but our right to work laws protect worker freedoms, and that's what allows us to be the top state for business, the top state for talent, where we see more Georgians than ever are working, where we see continued expansion of our academic programs and our training so Georgians can get the skills they need and high demand careers.

And then command more competitive wages continuously throughout their careers.

All right.

Nikki Porcher, it is your turn now.

Please to ask a question to Barbara Rivera Holmes.

Yes, thank you so much, Commissioner Holmes, you speak proudly about your family's American story, yet you endorse Rick Jackson, who used the phrase deported or deported and support an administration that has deported Cuban nationals to countries other than their own.

As labor commissioner, what standards do you hold your political allies like Rick Jackson and Trump to when it comes to treatments of workers and families, where do you draw the line and have they crossed it?

Thank you for bringing up my family's beautiful heritage and our travel here to America.

We fled Communist Cuba to have opportunity to live out our purpose and to experience the dignity of work.

I support conservative leaders because they deliver for Georgia families, because they have built this state's economy, and we're building the top state for talent.

I'm focused on my race as labor commissioner in doing my job as labor commissioner.

And that means connecting hardworking Georgians to mortgage paying jobs, expanding training opportunities that allow our citizens to gain the skills they need for high, competitive, high demand industries.

I'll continue fighting for Georgia's workers.

I'll continue building our state's economy, and I'll continue to fight for our economic freedoms.

Miss Porcher, any rebuttal to that answer?

There's so many rebuttals, if I'm being honest with you, because the question that I asked was not answered, making sure that we are making sure that when we are electing our leaderships for the states, that we are protecting all Georgians, whether they're working, whether they're not working, no matter where they come, if they're in Georgia, they deserve protection.

And when we are being threatened by government officials or want to be government officials, that goes ahead and creates more of a threat.

We have seen the uprising of people not able to go to work because they're scared of what might happen if Ice immigration comes.

So to stand with someone who says deported or deported lets me know the type of Labor Commissioner you are for workers.

You are watching the general election debate for Georgia Commissioner of Labor, a spirited debate.

Debate, if I do say so so far, we're going to now go back to our esteemed panel.

They get to ask questions to the candidate of their choice until we run out of time, I know it's going to fly by.

Ross Williams.

You'll lead us off, please.

Thank you.

This one's for both candidates.

A lot of people.

The first exposure they had to the Labor Department was during the pandemic, when a lot of people lost their jobs.

And unfortunately, you know, people met with missed calls, no responses, lack of payment.

So, uh, Commissioner, what have you done to prepare Georgia for the next kind of big catastrophe?

And, Miss Porcher, what would you do if elected to prepare Georgia for the next major downturn?

And, Commissioner, you can go ahead and start, and then we'll go to you.

Miss Porcher.

As labor commissioner, I know that Georgia's strength lies in her preparedness, which is why, when I came into office, I aggressively began modernizing the Georgia Department of Labor.

So we're prepared today for what may come tomorrow.

I'm executing the largest unemployment insurance modernization effort in state history.

We're updating our technology.

We're optimizing our team members and continuing to do this department forward so that it moves at the speed of business, and so that workers can have their benefits, the resources that they rely on from the Georgia Department of Labor reliably and efficiently.

We'll continue to move this agency forward through historic modernization so that we know when hard times hit, the Georgia Department of Labor is ready.

How about you, Miss Portia?

If rough times come our way, what can the Labor Department do to help?

I want to first acknowledge that during the pandemic, that was unprecedented time.

We had no idea exactly what we were facing.

So we need to make sure that we're allowing grace to that time period in this country.

With that being said, when we're talking about modernizing the system, let's make sure we're being honest with Georgia workers.

My opponent has stated when she was first appointed that we would see a new system of fall of 2026.

Since then, that date has been pushed back again in 2027.

I'm not sure if we're actually going to do exactly what happens with the system, because that system has been outdated since the 1980s.

We need to make sure that we're being honest with Georgia workers.

So if another crisis does hit, we need transparency.

We need to make sure that they have accessibility and that the labor commissioner is a strong voice for those who are looking for their benefits.

Nobody wakes up and says, hey, I get to file for unemployment today.

There's something happening in the labor commissioner should stand in that gap.

Emily Wu Pearson, once again, it is your turn.

Miss Portia, I'd like to ask you, where do you see unions fit into the conversation around labor in Georgia?

Yes.

So when it comes to unions here in Georgia, I'm not sure what big labor bosses means, but making sure that we have protection for our workforce.

I am pro-union, I have been endorsed by a number of unions because I believe in Georgia workers.

Even when we go back to the history of this state and this country, unions were there in the forefront to make sure that our workplaces were safe, making sure that we were advocating for safe wages, making sure that there was a voice for those workers who were scared to speak up.

So when it comes to Georgia Department of Labor, having a union liaison is something that's high on my list, because I want to make sure that Georgia workers are protected.

Let's move on to Ross.

Your turn to pose another question to a candidate or candidates of your choice.

I think I'm kind of interested in the commissioner's response to that question.

What do you think the role of unions is and should be in Georgia?

You know, should it be more or less or just right?

Unions play an important role in many of our state's largest industries.

My focus is on protecting worker freedom and workers not having to pay compulsory dues to keep their jobs.

It's important that we support workers.

Absolutely.

Georgia's economy thrives because of Georgia's very talented, very skilled, abundant labor force.

We'll continue to work with businesses.

We'll continue to work with workers.

Workers are our number one competitive advantage.

When workers win, Georgia wins, and when Georgia wins, we keep moving forward.

Yeah.

Go ahead please.

I want to just add that union dues are not mandatory.

If the job is under union.

So unions do protect workers who do not pay directly into unions as well.

So it's not something that's being stripped away or they're taking their wages.

If the union is there present at that job for those unions will also protect those workers as well.

Let me ask you both a question, and we'll start with you, Miss Porsche.

And it's about AI.

It's proliferation is never ending.

It gets bigger every day.

What can we do to make sure it doesn't take all of our jobs?

AI ai AI AI is changing.

How we hire is changing how we fire.

AI is changing, but it's it's one of those things where, you know, we're not going to get rid of it anytime soon.

So as labor commissioner, I'm going to do two things.

One, working with our state House, our state legislators, to make sure there are regulations for AI when they come to hire, when they're letting go, when they are even screening applications.

We should have a human double checking that work.

Second, training, we need to train and retrain those who are already in the workplace so that they can use AI to enhance the skills they already have.

AI is a tool that can be a great resource if used properly, but again, it takes making sure that we have a true advocate who knows that workers come first.

Commissioner Rivera Holmes, your thoughts on AI?

The technology boom is here in Georgia, and AI is an important part of the conversation today.

Every job is becoming a technology job.

The job is Labor Commissioner is to ensure this translates into economic opportunities for Georgia's labor force, and understanding that it has to be used responsibly.

Employers are exploring AI as a productivity tool and then upskilling their existing workforce into highest and best use capabilities.

We'll continue to work with Georgia's employers and will continue to upskill and train our workers so that they have the skills that they need to compete and win in an AI informed economy.

Thank you both for that answer.

I appreciate it.

Emily Wu Pearson, your turn again.

I also have a question about AI for both candidates with AI as an exciting opportunity to make a lot of money really fast, how will you engage Georgians to want to pursue skilled trades?

And I'll start with Miss Porcher.

Okay, so I will share my story with my son.

When my son was a junior in high school, he shared with me that he knew he did not want to go straight to college.

He wanted to actually do a trade.

So we went to the Department of Labor for help.

We said, hey, what programs do we have for those who are not going to college?

And they shared with us, if you do this program, because these businesses are coming to the state, take this test.

You should be able to find a job.

So there's so many young students just like him who are looking for resources, looking for help.

However, the Department of Labor is not actually outsourcing that information.

We have to go and seek that.

So as labor commissioner, I'll be making sure people understand what values there are to skilled trades, working with our unions who have paid apprenticeship programs, not just for our youth, but for those who are returning citizens, those who are actually looking to retrain as well.

I also went to a trade school in high school as well, and that skill has been able to form relationships, build communities, supplement my income.

Even to this day.

Skilled trade is one of those resources that you're always going to need and always have.

I always say you need to have a skill no one can take from you, and learning a trade is that way.

Commissioner, your response to that?

The skilled trades are one of Georgia's most important pieces to our economy.

We see continued growth in construction and auto repair and advanced manufacturing, and this means that we need to continue to enforce and have the skills that our workers need.

As a member of the governor's top talent strategy team and as labor commissioner, I've worked to expand training programs in high demand industries.

We've aligned education to the economy by expanding the programs we've created.

Visibility around what the industries are, what the jobs are, what the skills are needed for these jobs, and what the wages go with.

These jobs.

We'll continue to expand training programs in our skilled trades.

We'll continue to expand training programs where Georgians can earn a competitive wage, and they can build mortgage paying careers.

There's no shortage of opportunities in Georgia.

The job of the labor commissioner is to ensure that we're connecting Georgians to opportunity, aligning education to the economy, and continuing to create pathways where all Georgians can succeed.

Ross Williams, how about your turn for another question?

I want to ask about those opportunities in rural Georgia.

And this could be for both candidates.

You know, in a lot of places around the state, young people are moving out to find jobs and not moving back, which creates kind of a downward spiral for those areas.

So what is the role of the Labor Department in making sure opportunities are available in rural parts of the state as well?

Commissioner Rivera Holmes, you can start this time.

As someone who lives in rural Albany, Georgia.

This is something that I know very well and is a longtime economic developer in chamber CEO.

I've worked for decades to build our communities, to work with our educational partners so that our students and our adult learners have opportunities right here at home, which is why it's so important that we continue to build localized solutions.

As labor commissioner, I'm working with local communities.

I'm working with local businesses, and I'm working with our local institutions to build the training programs that really matter in our specific regional economies.

That's why the high demand career pathways are so vital.

We can look at every region of Georgia, and we can see and share the data with our communities that say, this is what your regional economy looks like.

This is where jobs are growing.

These are the skills that you need, and this is how we connect the dots so that we have a linear pathway from education to training and straight into the workforce.

I've been doing this for 20 years.

Building communities is what I do.

It's my life's work.

And as labor commissioner, I will continue to ensure that Georgians have opportunities regardless of zip code.

Mrs.

Porcher, your turn to answer yes.

As I've traveled the state campaigning over the last year, going to 84 counties, especially rural Georgia, what I'm learning is that the businesses that are coming to the state are not going to the people who actually work in this state.

We're telling businesses to come to the state and will train the people when when that is backwards, we should say, hey, these are the people who are trained businesses come here so we can employ the people in our rural communities.

Our rural communities are fed up.

They don't have career centers.

They don't have training programs.

They don't have businesses that they can go to.

Families are upset because their children have to drive 75, 80 minutes one way just to go to work, and they're not coming back home.

In order to build our rural communities, not only do we have to live in rural communities, we have to make sure our businesses are going to our rural communities.

I've heard over and over and over again how Georgia is a top state for business, but that top states for business is not accurate as well because we are 46 when it comes to workers, our businesses mean nothing if our workers are not protected.

Emily Wu Pearson We probably have time for one more from you.

I'll make it a short one to both candidates.

Um, what is the first issue you want to tackle in your term?

And I'll start with Miss Porcher.

Since I have been campaigning, Emily, I want to share that the candidates before me and the candidates before them have talked about how we need to modernize the Labor Department system.

If you go to the Department of Labor right now, you'll see a Pretti system.

But if you are an employer or employee, that backdated system is from the 1980s.

Last night I was at a community event and a young man, he shared with me, I'm on unemployment.

The system is not working.

I got frustrated and I gave up.

That is unacceptable.

Again, each candidate has spoke of how they're going to update the Department of Labor.

Even my opponent, when she was appointed, said, hey, I'm going to update this, and that date has now been pushed back.

What I'm first going to do is see exactly why our system has not been updated, give accurate information, and then accurate, feasible timeline.

I'm not going to go in and say, hey, I'm going to fix it.

By this time.

If I have no idea why it needs to be fixed.

And in the Georgia workers, the Georgia people, the working people of Georgia are sick of being lied to.

And that stops when you elect me.

How about you, Commissioner?

Any goals?

If voters give you a full term.

Since I became labor commissioner, I've worked aggressively to transform and reform the Georgia Department of Labor, and we are executing the largest modernization of unemployment insurance in state history.

And that goes a long way for workers.

That goes a long way for our businesses.

We'll continue to implement new technology advances so that Georgians can continue to receive the resources that they need reliably and securely.

That's the most important piece of modernization.

I will continue to transform and reform the Georgia Department of Labor.

I will continue to build tomorrow's workforce today, and I will continue to make Georgia the top state for talent.

When families win, Georgia wins.

My focus is on ensuring that we have economic freedom for our workers, connecting hardworking Georgians to mortgage paying jobs.

I'm not starting something new.

I'm finishing what I started, and we're going to continue to deliver for Georgians.

Thank you both for those great answers.

We appreciate you.

Unfortunately, that's our time for questions.

Now the candidates get 60s for a closing statement.

Nikki Porcher, let's start with you.

Georgia.

Today is the first day of early voting, and I know you're excited to go to the polls because the last four years, almost four years in this country, has been under Republican thumb, who have private sector business agendas for their own pockets.

We need to start electing people who actually care about the people who are doing the work every day as your Labor Commissioner.

That is how I plan on showing up.

We hear the word talent.

We hear the word opportunity, opportunity and talent means nothing if they do not live, if they do not lead to actual good paying jobs that allow you to live, work and play.

Here in the great state of Georgia.

My name is Nikki Porcher, and I would be honored to have your vote and your support.

Because I'm more than just a wordsmith.

I'm a true Georgia worker who knows that Georgia should work for everyone.

Thank you, Mrs.

Porcher.

We appreciate it.

Barbara Rivera Holmes, your closing statement, please.

Tonight, we've discussed some of the top economic issues facing our state today, a record 5.5 million Georgians are working.

But that isn't our finish line.

The question for the next four years is who can build on this foundation and deliver real results for Georgia's workers?

This isn't political for me.

This is personal.

I'm a first generation American, a mother, a wife.

Our family came to this country to pursue and live the American dream, protecting freedom and the dignity of work is what I fight to protect.

For your family every single day I'm transforming and reforming the Georgia Department of Labor.

I'm building tomorrow's workforce today, and I'm making Georgia the top state for talent.

My grandfather would say, I, we must fight forward, fight forward with me.

Join us at Bárbara for PG&E.com and we'll continue to move this state forward.

I'm Barbara Rivera Holmes.

I am honored to be your Labor Commissioner.

I would be honored to earn your vote and serve you for the next four years.

Thank you and God bless.

Commissioner Rivera Holmes.

Mrs.

Porcher, I can't thank you enough for taking part and for running for office.

You know, so many people sit on the sidelines and complain, but these candidates have stepped up and they want your vote come Election Day.

By the way, you don't have to wait until then.

Early voting is already underway.

Runs through Friday, October 30, and then the actual day, of course, is Tuesday, November third.

Again, candidates, we appreciate you.

Our panel.

Wonderful job as I knew you would do, and we'd like to thank our friends at the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Public Broadcasting for arranging today's debate.

I'm.

Brad Means.

Thanks for joining us for the Atlanta Press Club.

Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.