Georgians go to the polls tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3, to choose their next governor. Early voting is over, and public polling shows a tight race: one recent InsiderAdvantage survey had Jackson ahead 49% to 47%, within the margin of error, and the latest AJC poll showed the two deadlocked with some voters still undecided.
What both candidates agree on is that Georgia families need economic relief. Grocery bills, insurance premiums, and housing costs shape daily decisions in communities across the state, and the call for change on the economy has come from both sides of this race. Where they differ is in how to deliver it. Two videos from the campaign trail show the contrast in their own settings.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, in conversation. In an October interview for The Root’s “What’s Popular?” series, the Democratic nominee and former Atlanta mayor sat down with host Ashley Allison at Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar. The conversation covers the cost of living, housing, her opponent’s wealth, her record as mayor, and the fairness of the election.
In the interview and in related coverage, Bottoms describes her approach as giving Georgians “financial breathing room.” Her proposals include:
- Legislation to end or suspend grocery taxes, including a plan that would let local governments exempt groceries and qualifying take-home family meals from sales tax
- Ending taxes on diapers and feminine hygiene products
- Lowering auto and homeowners insurance costs, and cutting the state gas tax to 28 cents per gallon
- A $15 minimum wage for state workers, expanded Medicaid access, and action on corporate landlords and housing supply
- Eliminating the state income tax for teachers
“We have to be thoughtful, and we’ve got to listen to people when they tell us that they are hurting,” she told The Root, adding that the approach is to “move the needle and just give people some relief.” If elected, she would be Georgia’s first Black woman governor and the first in the nation. Her critics argue that Atlanta grew less affordable during her years as mayor, and the Jackson campaign has dismissed her grocery tax plan.
Rick Jackson, on the stump. The Republican nominee is a healthcare executive and investor who has never held public office. He grew up in foster care, and his campaign motto is “From foster care to billionaire.” Days before the election, he campaigned in Cartersville, where he repeated his pledge to cut the state income tax in half.
Jackson has said he would treat affordability “like a crisis.” His main promises, as reported across his campaign stops, are:
- Cutting Georgia’s income tax in half in his first term, and not seeking a second term if he fails
- Lowering property taxes, ending “hidden tax increases,” and eliminating the state income tax on tips
- Lowering health care costs, including what he calls the lowest-cost state health plan in the country
- Making Georgia safer and, in his words, “the worst place to be a criminal”
- Auditing government programs for results, and ending his company’s healthcare contracts with the state by December 31 if elected
He says he would pay for tax cuts through government efficiency and budget reductions, though reporters have noted that his plans are broad on goals and light on detail. He has also put a record amount of his own money into the race, reported at nearly $200 million.
Why Black voter participation matters. Georgia’s elections are decided by narrow margins, and analysts on both sides say Black voter turnout could shape this one. Both campaigns have courted Black voters, which tells you something: your vote is wanted and your concerns are being heard. The issues on the ballot reach directly into Black households: grocery prices, health coverage, housing, school funding, small business opportunity, and access to the ballot itself. Governors sign or veto budgets, set priorities for state agencies, and appoint officials who oversee how elections are run. Those decisions follow whoever shows up.
As Bottoms told The Root, “We’ve got to have a seat at the table and not sit this election out because elections matter.” That message, about the power of the ballot, echoes the work of generations who fought for the right to vote, and it applies no matter whom you support.
Before you go. Vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3. Confirm your polling place, hours, and ID requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office or your county election office. Read about both candidates from several sources and decide based on the issues that matter most to you and your family. Then check on a neighbor, relative, or fellow congregant to make sure they have a plan to vote.
Whoever wins, an informed and engaged electorate is how a community makes its priorities heard.