The Republican run-off for governor is already off to a nasty start. Less than 48 hours into what will be a ruthless run-off, Jones already challenged Jackson to a second debate – and they can’t stop accusing each other of corruption and self-dealing on the taxpayers’ dime.
While Jones and Jackson focus on fighting each other, Keisha Lance Bottoms is focused on delivering for Georgians and has made clear that as governor she will fight to lower costs, expand Medicaid, and invest in Georgians’ education. As The AJC’s Greg Bluestein wrote Thursday morning, “As Georgia Republicans are locked in a bruising and deeply expensive primary season, Democrats are trying to capitalize on something they suddenly have that the GOP doesn’t: unity and a head start.”
Here’s a look at where things stand within the vicious GOP battle for governor:
Jones Already Challenged Jackson to a Second Debate.
- Jones quickly challenged Jackson to debate. This comes after their first face-off was defined by nasty attacks, with State Affairs’ Beau Evans writing it was “tough to hear any real policies from Republican governor candidates as most attacked each other.”
- Jackson faced intense scrutiny of his disastrous performance in the April 27 debate, with one of Jackson’s answers about his employment practices being labeled by the AJC’s Patricia Murphy as “[o]ne of the truly bad answers in recent debate history.”
Jackson Already Released a New Ad Attacking Jones.
- Jackson wasted no time Wednesday morning attacking Jones, releasing a new ad accusing Jones of letting “the government take Georgians’ land with eminent domain.”
- This new ad builds on months of attacks in which Jackson and Jones have accused each other of self-enrichment and self-dealing on the taxpayers’ dime.
Jones and Jackson Attacked Each Other in Their Election Night Speeches.
- In his remarks, Jones pummeled Jackson for spending over $100 million and coming in second place, saying that GOP voters “spoke loud and clear that Georgia is not for sale.”
- And in his remarks, Jackson hammered Jones for his record of self-enrichment, saying that Jones’ reasoning for running is so that he can “keep making money for his family” and that “Burt is a career politician desperate to cling to power, so he can profit off of it.”
While Republicans Squabble, Keisha Lance Bottoms is Focused on Lowering Costs.
- While Jones and Jackson focused their election night remarks on attacking each other and have spent this campaign focused on culture war issues, Keisha Lance Bottoms is laser-focused on lowering costs for Georgia families.
- Keisha has made this commitment clear, telling Georgians in her primary night speech that she would “tak[e] action here to make life better for people across this state” by expanding Medicaid, lowering costs, and investing in Georgians’ education.
- And as The New York Times and CNN have noted, Keisha won big on Tuesday by “focusing her attention” on “affordability issues” and making “expanding Medicaid coverage and increasing education funding among the key pillars of her campaign.”
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