By Jill Nolin | Editor
Today we bring you our story about the only opportunity Georgia voters will likely have to see their choices for governor on a stage together.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, and Republican Rick Jackson participated in a town hall-style debate Tuesday at the Atlanta News First studio. Pool photo via Atlanta News First/WANF
2026 ELECTION
By Alander Rocha
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson clashed Tuesday night over healthcare, crime, data centers and election security in what will likely be the only opportunity for voters to see the two candidates for governor side by side.
The town hall-style debate, organized by Atlanta News First and Atlanta-based Gray Media, is the only forum where both candidates were expected to face each other. Bottoms challenged Jackson to more debates, but the Republican only agreed to the one meeting.
But because of the town hall format, Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, and Jackson, a healthcare executive, weren’t allowed to address each other and could only respond to questions from Georgia voters who were undecided before the debate. That didn’t stop either candidate from issuing attacks in their responses, though.
Voters head into a polling site at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
VOTING
By Jonathan Shorman
On Tuesday, several groups — including the Save America Movement, the American Federation of Teachers labor union and the National Action Network — launched Vote Safe, an initiative that will put local volunteers at polling locations in areas where they say pressure on Black, Latino and Asian voters is highest.
The program will include Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. The volunteers will document any intimidation and serve as a reassuring presence for voters, organizers said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks at NG Turf in Whitesburg, Georgia, during a visit earlier this fall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
ECONOMY
By Cami Koons and Jill Nolin
Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday evening that he will suspend penalties for dyed diesel after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins urged governors to follow the president’s move to suspend penalties on the unrestricted use of the fuel, which is typically allowed in off-road machinery only.
President Donald Trump announced Monday evening at a rally in Nebraska he would authorize highway use of dyed diesel fuel and defer the federal excise tax on the fuel to provide relief from the steep diesel prices which have hit record highs of more than $6 per gallon, nationally.
News tips, feedback, question? Email us: [email protected]
ICYMI FROM THE RECORDER
Thanks for reading The Daily Record. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.