Bernard Reynolds · October 12, 2026
The Atlanta Press Club holds its general election debates today and tomorrow, and early voting opens on Oct. 13. Most coverage will concentrate on the governor and U.S. Senate segments. For organizations with an issue before the General Assembly or a state agency in 2027, the shorter down-ballot debates may be more useful, because they involve the offices that preside over the Senate, defend the state in court, administer elections, and regulate utilities and insurance.
The schedule
According to the club's published schedule, the debates are taped and livestreamed, with GPB broadcasting them later. The club notes that some broadcast dates on its page are inconsistent, so confirm them before relying on them.
Monday, Oct. 12:
Lieutenant governor: Greg Dolezal (R) and Josh McLaurin (D) Attorney general: Brian Strickland (R) and Tanya Miller (D) Secretary of state: Tim Fleming (R) and Penny Brown Reynolds (D) Public Service Commission, District 3: Fitz Johnson (R) and Peter Hubbard (D) Public Service Commission, District 5: Josh Tolbert (R) and Shelia Edwards (D) Governor, 8 p.m.: Rick Jackson (R) and Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) invited
Tuesday, Oct. 13:
School superintendent: Richards Woods (R) and Lydia Powell (D) Agriculture commissioner: Tyler Harper (R) and Katherine Juhan-Arnold (D) Insurance commissioner: John King (R) and Keisha Waites (D) Labor commissioner: Bárbara Rivera Holmes (R) and Nikki Porcher (D) U.S. Senate, 8 p.m.: Mike Collins (R) and Jon Ossoff (D)
On the governor's race, Capitol Beat News Service reported on Sept. 22 that Jackson had formally declined to attend and that Bottoms would answer journalists' questions instead. Axios Atlanta reported that his one confirmed forum was the Oct. 6 Atlanta News First town hall. Under the club's rules, a candidate who declines is represented by an empty podium. This post was written before the debates began, so it does not report what any candidate said.
Why these offices matter in 2027
The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, which gives that office significant influence over committee assignments and the movement of legislation. The attorney general represents the state in litigation and issues legal opinions that agencies follow. The Secretary of State administers elections and also oversees corporate filings and professional licensing. The two Public Service Commission seats bear on utility rates and generation decisions. The insurance commissioner regulates the rates and forms that carriers use.
The winners will begin their terms around the time the session opens on Jan. 11. Their stated priorities, particularly where they differ from their opponents, indicate where agency rulemaking and legislative requests are likely to concentrate.
What to do now
Early voting runs Oct. 13 through Oct. 30, and the absentee ballot application deadline is Oct. 23, according to the Secretary of State's office. The debates are available on demand on the club's YouTube channel after they air. Organizations should note which candidates address their sector and which decline to, then plan outreach to the winners before the session begins.
If you want to discuss how these races bear on your plans for the session, you can schedule a conversation here: https://calendly.com/bernardreynolds/true-north-strategy-conversation
Bernard Reynolds is the principal of True North Strategies, a Georgia public affairs firm.
