ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, a Republican who is seeking a second term, will face off on Monday evening against Stacey Abrams, his Democratic opponent, in their first debate since their 2018 matchup.
The debate, hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Eastern on Georgia public television and streamed on both The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s website and the Atlanta Press Club Facebook page. Our reporters will offer live updates and analysis.
Both candidates are expected to use the debate stage to make their closing arguments to Georgia voters on the first day of the state’s early voting period. Democrats have been the most vocal in encouraging their base to cast ballots before Election Day, in an effort to identify enthusiasm gaps and blunt any negative effects that they say Georgia’s new voting law, S.B. 202, could have on Black and low-income voters.
Voting rights issues have taken up less oxygen this year than they did in 2018, with health care and the economy instead occupying a central role. Ms. Abrams has repeatedly condemned Mr. Kemp for supporting legislation that would outlaw abortion at six weeks of pregnancy. She amplified those criticisms after a major trauma center in Atlanta closed, arguing that four more years of his governorship would further harm women in the state.
Mr. Kemp has largely avoided talking about abortion, seeking to tie Ms. Abrams to national Democrats on issues like the economy and inflation and warning against a “Biden-Abrams agenda” for Georgians.
Ms. Abrams, who trails Mr. Kemp by five to 10 percentage points in most polls, will try to use Monday’s matchup to close the gap with Mr. Kemp. National Democrats, including the first lady, Jill Biden, and Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State, have joined Ms. Abrams on the campaign trail recently. And former President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the state on Oct. 28 to stump for her and the rest of the Democratic ticket.
