Takeaways: Kemp, Abrams renew their rivalry and push divergent visions in Georgia governor's debate

Four years later, Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams renewed their gubernatorial grudge match in a televised debate ahead of the Nov. 8 rematch for Georgia governor. 

Unlike their 2018 race, the duo now count as seasoned politicians with national profiles. Their divergent visions for Georgia's future haven't changed much, though.

The candidates, along with Libertarian Shane Hazel, met Monday night as part of the Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk Young debate series on the first day of early voting. All debates hosted by the Press Club are available for viewers to watch on GPB.org and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page.

The debate was wide-ranging, with questions on abortion, education, voting rights, law enforcement, marijuana legalization, entrepreneurship and even U.S. Senate appointments. The economy and inflation were among the few major issues that received little attention.  

Smart analysis delivered to your inbox: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

The Kemp-Abrams race is a rematch of the 2018 election. Kemp won that contest narrowly – by 55,000 votes – and has led the state for the past four years. Abrams, meanwhile, has spent that time building her national profile through voting rights advocacy.

Recap:Gov. Brian Kemp, Democrat Stacey Abrams spar in Georgia gubernatorial debate over education, crime

Here's what you might have missed:

'The right side of history'

The debate opened without introductory statements from the candidates, instead launching with tough questions.

"The reason people are on my side is because I'm on the right side of the issues and the right side of history," Abrams said in response to an opening question about why she is behind on polls. "I do not believe I am behind; I believe I making the case for me." 

Asked about whether he would support additional bans on abortions or contraceptives, Kemp said, "No, I would not," then pivoted to inflation.

"Thankfully, working with the Georgia General Assembly we've been able to give some people relief," he said. 

Kemp and Hazel engaged in an early back-and-forth on the legality of marijuana.

After a quick round of questions from the panelists, candidates were given an opportunity to one another a question.

Kemp asked Abrams how many sheriffs had endorsed her campaign, saying none had – a characterization Abrams disagreed with.

Abrams asked Kemp about the a 100-year gap for minority-owned businesses to catch up with white-owned entrepreneurs, specifically in relation to government contracts. Kemp said Georgia had succeeded in having high Black entrepreneurship and low unemployment. Abrams said he had still not done enough on contracting.

Most pressing issues

Each candidate was given an opportunity to highlight what they think the most pressing issues are in Georgia.

Abrams listed a slew of issues she laid at the doorstep of Kemp.

"Gang crime is up, gun violence is up, housing prices have skyrocketed," Abrams said. "We have 1.4 million people who don't have health insurance. ... The most dangerous thing facing Georgia is four more years of Brian Kemp." 

Middle ground?:Brian Kemp, Stacey Abrams take aim at centrist vote at Savannah conference. But who will win it?

Kemp, for his part, pivoted back to the rise in living expenses.

"My record is being attacked because Abrams doesn't want to talk about her own," he said. "We value life and we care. But in the future, my focus is going to be what it was when we opened the debate, and that is addressing sky-high inflation."

Education 

Education was a major theme of the night as Kemp defended his work and Abrams said more needs to be done. Hazel supported privatizing public education.

Kemp was asked why he focused on concept laws last legislation session and only now is now prioritizing $65 million to address pandemic learning loss. Kemp said his administration has been working with schools and education groups all along on the problem.

"This is really just the next step in the process. We are funding K-12 education more than we ever have in this state – ever," he said.

Abrams called for using the $6.6 billion state surplus to increase access to preschool and give an $11,000 raise to teachers.

"My plan is to use the resources we have today to plan for today and tomorrow," Abrams said.

"If Stacey Abrams had been governor the last four years, we wouldn't have that revenue," Kemp shot back.

Abrams later attacked Kemp for passing a "divisive concept" bill that restricts how particular historical topics can be taught. 

"When it comes to education, we know teachers are leaving the workforce," Abrams said, adding that teachers are leaving because divisive topic legislation means teachers "have to lie to a child." 

Kemp defended his record on teacher retention, including raising teacher pay, but also on some of his legislation on how certain things are taught.

"This is exactly why I did the $5,000 teacher pay raise that I ran on in 2018," Kemp said. "We've also done a Parent's Bill of Rights." 

Voting rights and changing laws

Abrams famously declined to concede the 2018 election, although in her response she said she acknowledged Kemp won at the time. But she said that in 2018, and still today, Kemp's policies make it difficult for people to vote.

"We need a governor who believes in the right to vote and not in voter suppression," Abrams said. 

Kemp responded by pointing to record turnout in 2020 and the primary this spring, repeating a standard line: "In Georgia it's easy to vote and hard to cheat."

Rising cost of living and health care access

Despite polling as one of the key issues for Georgians, the rising cost of living received few questions. Medical costs and access to hospitals in the state received more attention. 

Asked about hospital closings, Kemp responded, "I would just remind voters at home there are also hospitals being built" and elaborated on his work to keep some hospitals open.

Rising prices:Inflation eased to 8.2% but remained high in September, CPI report shows

Abrams reiterated her support for expanding Medicaid – Georgia is one of 12 states that have declined to expand it to all people making up to 138% of the federal poverty line. 

"We have 19 hospitals at risk of closure, joining the six hospitals that have closed under this governor," Abrams said, suggesting that the federal funding that would come with Medicaid expansion would help keep health facilities open.

"She's said that the silver bullet is Medicaid expansion," Kemp replied, and said his administration had expanded the number of people accessing the program. "The problem is it's a broken government system."

Law enforcement and public safety

Kemp was asked about the spread of gun violence.

"Well again, we're going after the people who are doing these gun-related crimes, and that's what we're doing in going after gang violence," he said.

"I believe we can protect the Second Amendment and second graders at the exact same time," Abrams responded. She blamed an increase in gun sales for rising crime under Kemp.