Headline Roundup • October 31st, 2022
Recapping the Final Georgia Governor's Debate
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Sunday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) and Stacey Abrams (D) met for their final debate before the 2022 midterm elections on Nov. 8. Topics in the debate included election integrity, defunding the police, gun control, and abortion, with Abrams criticizing Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R) on allegations that he paid for the abortions of two women.
Key Quotes: "I want you to know that polls do not see you, but I do. And the only poll that matters, is the poll at the ballot box," said Abrams in her closing remarks. "I promise to all Georgians I would work hard for them every day as their governor, whether they voted for me or not," said Kemp in closing.
For Context: Abrams was joined by former President Barack Obama at a campaign event on Friday, and former Vice President Mike Pence is set to campaign in Georgia for Kemp. Kemp is perhaps known for refusing to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, and defeated a Trump-backed candidate in the Republican primary in May. Abrams is known for running unsuccessfully against Kemp in Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial election. According to FiveThirtyEight (Center bias), Kemp currently leads Abrams by 7 to 8 points.
How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum covered the debate, with many left-rated sources pointing out that 1.6 million voters had already cast their ballots in Georgia as of Sunday.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Ben Gray, AP
Georgia gubernatorial candidates Gov. Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams sparred Sunday in their second and final debate – their last chance to sway undecided voters as the candidates battle to be Georgia's governor once again.
In the hourlong debate that allowed for longer rebuttals, topics changed – sometimes quickly – with candidates pivoting from affordable housing to pandemic response, for instance.
The candidates' second debate took place nearly two weeks after early voting in the state began, with over a million Georgia voters already casting their ballots. Election Day is Nov. 8.
The economy, abortion and gun...
Photo illustration of Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp: Axios Visuals. Photos: Cheney Orr/Bloomberg via Getty Images and Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
In Georgia's final gubernatorial debate, Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams sought to attack incumbent GOP Gov. Brian Kemp's controversial social policies in a rematch for the job that has appeared less competitive than their 2018 race — and even to tie him to his embattled counterpart in the state's high-stakes Senate race, Herschel Walker.
Why it matters: With polling averages continuing to show Abrams trailing Kemp, the candidates' final debate posed one more opportunity for the Democratic challenger to change the perception that momentum is not on her side while onstage alongside him.
Abrams finished her closing remarks...
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Stacey Abrams (D) had one last debate to persuade Georgia voters still undecided about whom to support in the governor's race, and the pair used the platform to criticize one another on everything from abortion to guns, with Abrams also attacking Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R).
Roughly one week before Election Day, Abrams, a former Georgia state lawmaker, is behind the incumbent by an average of 7 to 8 points, according to FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, respectively.
Here are five takeaways from their final hourlong debate:
Kemp and Abrams each appealed to the middle ground on abortion
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