Georgia’s primary runoff election is fast approaching, and the candidates faced off in several debates this week to make their cases.
The Atlanta Press Club hosted the Loudermilk-Young Debate Series on Sunday and Monday. It featured candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, Georgia Public Service Commission and more.
These candidates advanced to a runoff after nobody received more than 50% of the vote in last month’s election.
Early voting for Georgia’s primary runoff elections begins on Saturday in most metro Atlanta counties and ends on June 12. Election Day is June 16.
WABE reporters and editors shared takeaways from some of this week’s debates.
U.S. Senate (Republicans)
Winner to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff
The candidates for the GOP nomination for Senate are increasing their public support for President Trump at a point when the president hasn’t endorsed a candidate in the race.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins praised Trump’s efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and said that as a senator, he would work to reduce the amount of profits insurance companies make off the insured.
Derek Dooley refined his position on a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who entered the country illegally. In a past interview with 11Alive, he said Congress needs to find solutions for people who have been living in the country and working and paying taxes. However, at the debate, Dooley stated he does not support any legal pathway for citizenship for people who entered the country illegally.
Dooley also reiterated his position on abortion, saying states should have the final say on what constitutes personhood rather than the federal government.
Collins distanced himself from former staffer and congressional aide Brandon Phillips, who is subject to a House Ethics Committee complaint about misusing taxpayer funds. Collins defended Phillips over the complaint, but after Phillips posted on X mocking a Dooley-associated person who was raped, Collins has cut ties with Phillips.
-Emily Wu Pearson
Governor (Republicans)
Winner to face the Democratic nominee, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Billionaire Rick Jackson was a no-show for the debate with Lt. Governor Burt Jones. He was represented by an empty podium.
Jones blasted Jackson and listed questions he would have asked.
Around the same time, Jackson was up the road in Kennesaw rallying with Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott
Both are claiming the mantle of President Trump, though Jones actually has the president’s backing.
Jackson has also been appealing to Kemp supporters.
-Rahul Bali
Public Service Commission – District 5 (Republicans)
Winner to face Democratic nominee Shelia Edwards and Libertarian Thomas Blooming in District 5
Businessman Bobby Mehan and engineer Josh Tolbert reiterated their backgrounds and campaign promises in Sunday’s debate and criticized each other.
The commission regulates utilities, including Georgia Power, overseeing how the largest electric utility in the state makes energy and what it charges.
Tolbert has emphasized his engineering expertise, arguing it would help him ask the right questions and make informed decisions as a commissioner. In the debate, Mehan said the commission already has plenty of experts on staff.
Mehan has made a pledge of no new rate increases the centerpiece of his campaign. Tolbert criticized that as unrealistic.
-Emily Jones
School Superintendent (Republicans)
Winner to face Democratic nominee Lydia Powell
A lot of the debate focused on Georgia’s low literacy rates.
Data from the 2024-25 school year shows that only around one-third of third graders in Georgia have literacy proficiency, and some state lawmakers have criticized what they perceive as a lack of effort and engagement with the legislative process from Superintendent Richard Woods’ office.
Woods defended his record, pointing to statewide initiatives to improve literacy under his tenure, and he attacked challenger Candler County Superintendent Fred “Bubba” Longgrear’s district for its low literacy rates.
Longgrear emphasized that he would be a more innovative leader who could bring cohesion across the state, which includes his relationships with lawmakers working in education, many of whom have endorsed him.
-Meimei Xu
U.S. House of Representatives – District 11 (Republicans)
Winner to face Democratic nominee Chris Harden
John Cowan, a Northwest Georgia neurosurgeon, faced off against Rob Adkerson, outgoing U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s former chief of staff.
The two Republicans continued to make President Trump the center of their runoff.
A tense back-and-forth ensued between Cowan and Adkerson when it came to who was the truest supporter of the president. In response to a moderator question, both said they don’t disagree with a single one of Trump’s policies. But notably, Trump has not endorsed anyone in this race.
Though policy generally took a backseat during the 30-minute debate, the candidates answered questions about perceived election fraud, healthcare and the Affordable Care Act, the war in Iran, and whether the Department of Homeland Security should work with local governments or their representation in Congress when building new immigration detention facilities. Most answers were in lockstep with Trump’s priorities or beliefs.
-Melissa Feito
