Will they, or won’t they?
Will a debate between the two nominees running for Georgia governor happen or not? That seems to be the burning question these days.
Georgia voters currently have only one confirmed opportunity to see Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms debate before the Nov. 3 election. Both campaigns have agreed to an Oct. 6 town hall hosted by Atlanta News First.
However, it remains to be seen if voters eager to hear the two candidates together on one stage will instead hear crickets.
According to various news outlets, other planned encounters have not produced a joint debate. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that a Sept. 22 debate at 11Alive was canceled after Jackson declined to participate. He also declined a Sept. 17 Middle Georgia Matters forum in Macon. Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that Jackson formally declined the Atlanta Press Club’s Oct. 12 gubernatorial debate (organizers stated they plan to proceed with Bottoms answering journalists’ questions and an empty podium representing the absent candidate).
Debates matter because a shared stage gives voters a chance to compare candidates under the same conditions, hear follow-up questions, and watch each respond to criticism in real time. That is especially valuable in a close statewide race involving consequential choices on taxes, health care, education, public safety, the state budget, and a slew of other matters important to voters.
Debates do not guarantee perfect answers. Still, they create a public record, expose differences amongst those running for the public office, and help voters judge whether candidates can explain their plans clearly.
It is voters who benefit the most when contenders submit themselves to sustained, side-by-side scrutiny. Invested Georgia residents should be putting the pressure on every candidate on the ballot to stand up and speak out about their plans and priorities – and not run away from the opportunity to debate.
