Kemp, Abrams Debate In Nation's Most Watched Governor's Race

ATLANTA, GA -- Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp met for their first televised statewide debate Tuesday night after both campaigns experienced some of their most eventful 24 hours before their 7 pm meeting. Kemp and Abrams are both seeking to become governor in what is arguably the nation's most watched gubernatorial campaigns. Abrams is hoping to become the nation's first African-American female governor in history, while Kemp is aiming to maintain GOP control of the governorship his party has enjoyed since 2002, as well as continue the party's dominance of every statewide elected office and a majority GOP congressional delegation.

In the hours leading up to Tuesday night's debate, both campaigns were rocked by controversy. First, Abrams admitted to burning Georgia's then-state flag in a 1992 protest on the steps of the state capitol, after videos emerged on several social media outlets. Abrams burned the flag as a symbol of her opposition to Confederate symbolism.

Later on Tuesday, a leaked audio recording sent to Rolling Stone, Kemp is heard expressing concerns over his opponent's voter turnout operation. Kemp was appearing at a ticketed campaign event last week at Buckhead's Blind Pig Parlour Bar, and said Abrams' absentee ballot turnout operation "continues to concern us, especially if everybody uses and exercises their right to vote -- which they absolutely can -- and mail those ballots in."

In the recording, Kemp said his campaign needs "heavy turnout to offset that."

SEE ALSO: Two Weeks From Election, Abrams Under Fire For Flag Burning

AND: Kemp: Abrams' Voter Turnout Effort Worrisome "If Everybody Votes"

Kemp, who is also Georgia's secretary of state, is under heavy fire for his office's alleged attempts at voter suppression. The Coalition for Good Governance is Kemp, as well as state and Gwinnett County elections officials, over how mail-in absentee ballots are handled. The coalition, made up of five Georgia voters, filed the lawsuit last week to halt the excessive rejection of mail ballots because of voters' errors and discrepancies on mail ballot paperwork.

SEE ALSO: Group Suing Kemp, Gwinnett Elections Board Over Ballot Rejections

"Thousands of voters have been rejected by these unfair and unconstitutional practices in recent elections. We are asking the Court to intervene to stop these unjust actions in advance of the November election. Certain Georgia laws and policies prevent the counting of valid ballots cast by eligible voters merely trying to exercise their right to vote," said Marilyn Marks, executive director of Coalition for Good Governance.

Kemp is countering those allegations with numbers that show Georgia has shattered its all-time voter registration record with more than 7,000,000 active and inactive voters on the rolls.

You watch Tuesday night's debate in its entirety below:

Georgia is widely considered to be a bellwether state to determine whether Democrats can hope to retake control of a state that has been solidly in GOP control since 2002.

Here's a look at recent developments in Georgia's nationally watched races:

• Two Weeks & Counting: Georgians Vote In Governor Race, Midterms
• Kemp, Abrams Tied In Nation's Most Watched Governor's Race
• Group Suing Kemp, Gwinnett Elections Board Over Ballot Rejections
• GA Black Caucus To Hold News Conference On Gwinnett Voting Issues
• Runoff Possible In Nation's Most Watched Governor's Race
• Georgia Shatters All-Time Voter Registration Numbers
• Kemp Leads Older Voters, Abrams Strong Among Women | New Poll
• 9,000+ Already Voted In Nation's Most Watched Governor's Race

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