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Bottoms, Jackson Clash on Medicaid, Taxes in Georgia Debate

By Drooid · Oct 7, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bottoms Debate Jackson

Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican candidate Rick Jackson debated at Georgia’s gubernatorial town-hall.
Bottoms pledged to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage, and fund technical college.
Jackson proposed halving income tax, cutting property taxes, expanding Medicaid, and protecting $4.5 billion funding.
Bottoms called for pausing new data-center construction while Jackson rejected a moratorium, citing benefits.
Bottoms backed the Voting Rights Act while Jackson praised Gov. Brian Kemp’s voting-law reforms.

Summary

Jackson Cites Inflation

Gray Media anchor Rick Folbaum moderated the town-hall, limiting each answer to 60 seconds.
The debate aired on Gray Media stations statewide from Assembly Studios in Doraville.
Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett attended the debate and gave post-event remarks.
Bottoms’ communications adviser Jared Leopold called the debate “a disaster for Rick Jackson.”
Rick Jackson cited 2021’s “worst inflation” despite data showing U.S. inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022.

History

Historical Context

Zell Miller’s narrow 51.05% victory in the 1994 gubernatorial race marked the last Democratic win before Georgia’s shift toward Republican dominance, a trend underscored when Miller, a Democrat, won the 2000 Senate seat but Republicans swept statewide offices in the early 2000s. Today, Democratic mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson debate Medicaid and voting-rights issues in Doraville.

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Bottoms Debate Jackson

Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican candidate Rick Jackson debated at Georgia’s gubernatorial town-hall.
Bottoms pledged to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage, and fund technical college.
Jackson proposed halving income tax, cutting property taxes, expanding Medicaid, and protecting $4.5 billion funding.
Bottoms called for pausing new data-center construction while Jackson rejected a moratorium, citing benefits.
Bottoms backed the Voting Rights Act while Jackson praised Gov. Brian Kemp’s voting-law reforms.

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