Kemp, Abrams advocate abortion, crime, economy in final Georgia gubernatorial debate

Republican Governor Brian Kemp When Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams Georgians offered a different vision for Georgia in policy-focused debates during the pair’s final meeting on Sunday as they continue to vote in the Nov. 8 elections.

Avoiding an explicit promise not to sign any more abortion restrictions, Kemp said, “I don’t want to move the needle any more.” “We will look into them when the time comes,” he said.

Abrams said, “Let me be clear, he didn’t say he wouldn’t.”

Kemp criticized Abrams for being inconsistent about which restrictions he supported. Abrams insists he hasn’t changed his position, he said he supports legal abortion until the fetus can live outside the womb.

Kemp said that under Georgia’s abortion regulations, which restrict most abortions after heart activity is detected in utero, women can be prosecuted for abortion or investigated after a miscarriage. The governor denied the allegations.The governor revealed that his wife had miscarried one of her twins and the other survived to become their eldest daughter, calling it a “tragic and traumatic situation.”

But Abrams said it was up to local law enforcement and district attorneys, and it wasn’t clear if local authorities wouldn’t try to prosecute. The sheriff comes to ask them if they are staying illegally. abortion‘” Abrams said of the woman.

Kemp takes credit for rising wages and low unemployment, blames persistent inflation on the “disastrous” policies of the Democratic Party in Washington, and Abrams evades her party’s role in the federal government, blaming Kemp. .

“We have the lowest unemployment rate in the history of our state,” he said. “We have more people working than ever in our state’s history. We see economic opportunities in every part of our state.”

Kemp advocated using state and federal funds to suspend the gas tax and issue income tax refunds, and pledged to seek more income tax refunds and property tax refunds in his second term. I repeated.

Abrams argued Kemp’s economy wasn’t boosting enough GeorgianShe pointed to her proposals to spend the state’s surplus on pay raises for teachers and some law enforcement officers, expand Medicaid, and boost parenting programs for working parents, among other suggestions.

“People are feeling financial pain right now. Unfortunately, under this governor, that pain has gotten worse,” Abrams said.

Kemp and Abrams made a clearer distinction on crime, and the Republican governor attempted to see Abrams as a supporter of the “Defend the Police” movement, touting his support from dozens of sheriffs across the state. did.

“He’s lying again. I never said I believed in defunding the police. I believe in public safety and accountability,” Abrams countered. , highlighted her suggestion to spend more money on law enforcement with Kemp.

While Kemp emphasized his administration’s efforts to curb gang activity and violence in Georgia, Abrams was “holistic” about the root causes of increased crime in Georgia during Kemp’s tenure. ‘ and criticized the administration for not thinking about it.

“We are not the local police department. I am not the mayor.

Sunday’s match was the third overall debate between the two rivals. They only met once in 2018, but then-Secretary of State Kemp skipped the second debate to attend a rally with then-President Donald Trump.

Kemp has relied on his incumbent this year, arguing that his position in control of the economy warrants an extension. Republicans have put forward only a few proposals for his second term. These include a one-time tax cut, subsidy schemes to help schools improve student performance, and public safety proposals that include demanding cash bail for more people arrested. Kemp marries that her slender series of proposals in her attack on Abrams, that she doesn’t support the police enough and is overly focused on out-of-state liberal donors as a “celebrity”. ‘, she claims.

Abrams claims to have a longer-term vision for the Georgia economy, promises far more teacher pay raises than the $5,000 Kemp provided, expands the Medicaid program, and helps small- and minority-owned increased access to state contracts for businesses that do business and expanded access to college aid; Paid for gambling. She also argued that the abortion restrictions and gun laws signed by Kemp would be relaxed to prevent further changes.

Kemp leads in most polls, but Abrams argues his focus on winning over rare Democratic voters may be missed in the polls. .

Unlike the first governor’s debate on Oct. 17, Sunday night’s event did not feature libertarian Shane Hazel, the third candidate on the ballot. Hazel interrupted the discussion several times to try to argue his point of view because he didn’t have many questions. Hazel’s presence on the ballot means a runoff vote could take place on Dec. 6, as Georgia law requires candidates to win an absolute majority. To do.

More than 4 million people may vote in state elections this year, and more than half may vote before Election Day. By Saturday, more than 1.6 million people had voted and more than 1.7 million requested mail-in ballots. Early voting will run until Friday.