Will Bottoms and Jackson debate ahead of Georgia governor's race?

The stage is set for the Georgia gubernatorial race in November.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, won the primary for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination by a solid margin in May and has since gone on the offensive in her state. She shared the stage with U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democratic incumbent running for reelection in Georgia, and said it didn't matter which Republican she was going to face; her message is that Democrats could win Georgia.

The comments came as Republicans were still working to pick their candidate. The May primary saw both Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare CEO Rick Jackson with considerable support, and the race was called for a runoff soon after polls closed. Just shy of a month later, the longtime politician backed by Trump fell to the political novice, and Jackson became the nominee after a campaign speed run.

Bottoms has now challenged Jackson to a series of debates ahead of the November election. Jackson made a statement that was later used against him in political ads during his first primary debate. He was a no-show for his second.

Bottoms challenges Jackson to debate series

Earlier this week, Bottoms called for three debates to take place across Georgia in the months before November, noting specifically that they would need to take place at least two weeks before the election, after Jackson's team agreed to a television debate just two days before the runoff and after early voting had already taken place.

Bottoms has already accepted the Atlanta Press Club debate scheduled for Oct. 12, according to her campaign, and said she would prioritize other regions of the state for any other debates.

If all three are completed, it would be the most debates between gubernatorial candidates in more than a decade in Georgia, according to her team.

"Georgians deserve to hear directly from their candidates for governor," Bottoms said in a statement on Tuesday. "I look forward to continuing to share my vision for Georgia on the debate stage, and I call on Rick Jackson to join me."

Jackson's team did not commit to any debates in a statement to Atlanta News First the next day. He has since agreed to debate Bottoms, but didn't provide specifics.

Jackson earns radio host endorsement, says he will debate

On Thursday, Jackson appeared on The Shelley Wynter Show on 95.5 WSB in Atlanta, the same show where he did his first interview after announcing his late entry into the governor's race.

Wynter, known for his conservative views and longtime support of Gov. Brian Kemp, recently spoke with Ossoff and offered a surprise endorsement of the Democrat. Wynter was vocal about his dislike of Rep. Mike Collins, Ossoff's opponent, and said before the Senate runoff he would support Ossoff if former football coach Derek Dooley lost the party nomination.

But he was back on the Republican train with Jackson, endorsing him for governor after his choice, Jones, lost the runoff. When Wynter asked Jackson why a successful billionaire was seeking public office at this stage in his career and life, Jackson said it was a "spiritual decision." Jackson said he vowed to give his money, or "God's money" as he put it, back to the "Kingdom" through nonprofits, service organizations, and public service.

"My purpose is Kingdom impact, and I think when you're taking care of people, it has Kingdom impact," Jackson said on air. "I didn't think I could live out the rest of my life and have more impact than representing 11 million Georgians using my capabilities as a businessperson."

Wynter said he was "about to cry" as Jackson made his case, then asked Jackson's feelings about running against Bottoms.

Jackson said she is "a nice lady and has a great family," but he wants to "extend the legacy of Brian Kemp" and is a "better fit to run the organization." He said his experience could create jobs and make Georgia the "Silicon Valley of the South."

"Of course I will debate (Bottoms), and I look forward to it," Jackson said. He didn't note when a debate would take place, how many debates he would participate in, or which debate moderators he might accept. Wynter did not press him for specifics.

Jackson has mixed debate record in first race for public office

Jackson has never held elected office, so when he stepped on the Republican primary debate stage in Atlanta on April 27, not only was he being presented to many Georgia voters for the first time, but he was taking on experienced politicians in the current lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

During the debate, Jones came after Jackson over immigration concerns when a report by the New York Post published just hours before the debate accused Jackson of using illegal immigrant labor at his estate in Cumming, Georgia. He is accused of not checking work authorizations before hiring laborers, according to the Post.

"You know, Mr. Jackson, you claim to be the president's choice, but you've donated to Liz Cheney. You claim to be pro-life, but you've profited off having doctors and nurses go to organizations like Planned Parenthood. Last but not least, on illegals, you claim to be 'tough on illegal deportation,' but you've got illegals working in your backyard as we speak right now," Jones said in the section where candidates could question one another. "So, my question to you is, who's the real Rick Jackson?"

Jackson responded by saying he's never taken money from Planned Parenthood, taken money for doctors to perform transgender surgeries on underage kids, and said if elected, he would make Georgia the "number one" state for deporting "criminal illegals."

When Jones asked again if Jackson had any illegal immigrants working for him, Jackson eventually responded, "I don't know."

"Here's the reason why. You're talking about a domestic person that somebody hired. I hire thousands of people a year, Burt," Jackson said.

The comments were clipped almost immediately by the Jones team and played on multiple ads on television and social media, and became a regular talking point for Jones during various public appearances.

In a runoff debate held on June 1, Jackson declined, citing a scheduling conflict for an event with former Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Jackson did agree to a debate later in June, but it would take place after early voting was already complete across the state. Jones and Jackson did not debate again before the runoff race.

USA TODAY reached out to Jackson's campaign to clarify if the candidate had formally agreed to debates, and they deferred to the comments he made with Wynter.

Irene Wright covers midterm elections in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today's Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Bottoms and Jackson debate ahead of Georgia governor's race?

Reporting by Irene Wright, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 1:27 PM.