Athens became the epicenter of Georgia's 2026 midterms today, as Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms shared a stage for the first time since their spring primary victories, headlining a sold-out political luncheon just months before voters decide who succeeds term-limited Governor Brian Kemp. The gubernatorial rivals weren't the only marquee names in the room — the fall's high-profile U.S. Senate race between incumbent Jon Ossoff and challenger Mike Collins also took center stage.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce Congressional Luncheon convened at Athens' Classic Center, according to Atlanta News First, following an evening networking reception at Creature Comforts Brewing Co, per the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The event marked the first meeting between Jackson and Bottoms since each locked up their party's nomination, with Kemp barred from seeking a third term.
How Jackson And Bottoms Won Their Primaries
Jackson, an Alpharetta healthcare staffing executive, secured the GOP nomination in a June 16 primary runoff, defeating Donald Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones with roughly 53% of the vote after pouring more than $100 million of his own money into the race, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The runoff was required because Georgia election law mandates that gubernatorial candidates win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round, per Staffing Industry Analysts.
Bottoms, who served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, won the Democratic primary on May 19 with more than 56% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia. A win in November would make her Georgia's first female governor and the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. Kemp, meanwhile, is barred from a third term under Article V of the Georgia Constitution, which limits governors to two consecutive four-year terms, per Justia Law.
Polls Show Bottoms Ahead, But Older Voters Favor Jackson
A July AARP poll of likely Georgia voters found Bottoms leading Jackson 48% to 42% statewide, though Jackson held a commanding 55% to 42% edge among voters 50 and older, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Georgia Democrats haven't elected a governor since Roy Barnes won in 1998; Barnes served one term before losing his 2002 reelection bid to Republican Sonny Perdue, per the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Bottoms picked up a notable national endorsement last month when former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee backed her campaign, tying the race to Southern voting rights and redistricting fights following recent Supreme Court rulings, as reported by CBS News. Hoodline previously covered Holder's endorsement of Bottoms and its ties to the redistricting battle.
Jackson Says Yes To A TV Debate, Bottoms Hasn't
Gray Media, which owns Atlanta News First, has extended an invitation for Jackson and Bottoms to meet in a town hall-style debate. Jackson has accepted, but Bottoms has not yet committed, the outlet reports — even though she challenged Jackson to a series of debates earlier this year.
Senate Race And Congressional Panel Share The Spotlight
The Ossoff-Collins Senate contest brought its own numbers to Athens. A July AARP survey showed Ossoff leading Collins 52% to 43%, according to AARP. The financial gap between the two campaigns is stark: Ossoff raised more than $20 million in the second quarter and reported $42 million in cash on hand, while Collins raised just over $2 million following his primary runoff, per Sabato's Crystal Ball.
The luncheon also featured a congressional candidate panel moderated by Drew Ferguson, bringing together Democrat Jasmine Clark of Georgia's 13th District and Republicans John Cowan of the 11th District, Houston Gaines of the 10th District and Jim Kingston of the 1st District, according to the same account. Collins, a Republican congressman, is challenging Ossoff for the Senate seat this fall.
