Atlanta’s former mayor and the health care executive face questions about leadership, state contracts and data centers in their only confirmed debate.
ATLANTA – October 6, 2026 – Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson will meet tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern for a town hall debate in Georgia’s governor’s race. The event comes one day after the state’s voter registration deadline and one week before early voting begins.
Atlanta News First and Gray Media will host the hourlong event at Assembly Studios. Anchor Rick Folbaum will moderate as selected Georgia voters question the candidates directly. It is the only confirmed debate between the two before the November 3 election.
Jackson’s debate refusals narrow voters’ opportunities
Tonight’s meeting carries added weight because Jackson has declined other debate invitations.
Bottoms accepted an invitation to a September 22 debate at 11Alive, but Jackson declined to participate. The station canceled the debate.
Jackson also formally declined the Atlanta Press Club’s October 12 event, according to reporting by Capitol Beat and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Bottoms has sought six debates. Jackson’s campaign has said it is focused on direct voter outreach. It has also accused Bottoms of delaying acceptance of the Atlanta News First event before demanding additional meetings.
Those decisions leave tonight as the only scheduled debate featuring both candidates. More appearances could still be arranged before Election Day.
Bottoms’ mayoral record could draw scrutiny
Jackson may challenge Bottoms over public safety and her decision against seeking another term as Atlanta mayor.
Bottoms announced in May 2021 that she would not run for reelection. Her tenure included the COVID-19 pandemic, protests over police violence and a rise in homicides.
However, describing that decision as “abandonment” requires context. Bottoms completed her term and remained mayor until Andre Dickens took office in January 2022. Her farewell message was released on her last full day in office. She did not resign before her term ended.
The distinction leaves room for questions about leadership without misstating her departure. Jackson could press her on why she declined another term and how her Atlanta record prepares her to lead Georgia. Bottoms could explain that decision and defend her response to the crises facing the city.
These are possible lines of discussion, rather than confirmed questions for tonight.
Jackson’s health care business raises conflict questions
Bottoms may focus on Jackson’s wealth and his companies’ work for Georgia agencies.
A February Healthbeat investigation found that Jackson’s companies received nearly $1 billion in state-agency payments since fiscal 2020. Much of the money funded medical staffing during the pandemic.
Those payments were company revenue, not a calculation of Jackson’s personal profit. They also do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing or prove that he profited from failures in health care access.
Still, the contracts raise questions about how a governor would separate public duties from private interests. Voters could ask whether Jackson would divest, how future contracts would be handled and what safeguards he would support.
In the same Healthbeat report, Jackson’s campaign said his company follows the law. It also said he would work to expand access and lower health care costs.
Both candidates could face a broader question: How would their plans make care more affordable and available?
Texas data center investment becomes a campaign issue
Jackson’s connection to a proposed Texas data center has also drawn scrutiny.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a firm linked to Jackson is developing a project in Bowie County. His campaign said he no longer holds a management, board or decision-making role, but he retains a financial stake.
Some residents told the newspaper that the process lacked transparency. Bottoms has called on Jackson to divest and disclose his investments.
The dispute connects to competing proposals for data centers in Georgia. Bottoms supports a temporary pause on new projects. Jackson opposes a statewide pause and favors local authority, developer-funded infrastructure and environmental safeguards.
Bottoms’ own record may also arise. In that report, the AJC noted that Atlanta’s development authority approved a tax incentive during her mayoralty for Coda, a mixed-use Georgia Tech project that includes a computing data center.
Tonight could give voters a chance to hear how each candidate would protect communities and utility customers.
Registration has closed; voting is still ahead
Monday, October 5, was Georgia’s deadline to register for the November general election. Early in-person voting begins October 13, and Election Day is November 3.
Registered voters can check their status, sample ballot and voting locations through the Georgia My Voter Page.
How to watch tonight
The town hall airs at 8 p.m. Eastern on Atlanta News First, Channel 46, and participating Gray Media stations across Georgia. Viewers can also stream it through Atlanta News First’s website and apps.
The modified town hall format gives selected voters the opportunity to question both candidates. Topics include the economy, health care, education, housing and public safety.
Pre-debate coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. Analysis follows at 9 p.m.
