05/29/2026
From the AJC on 5/28/26:
* Debate over debates *
U.S. Rep Mike Collins (left) and former football coach Derek Dooley [see below] , both Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, at the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young debate last month. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
U.S. Rep Mike Collins (left) and former football coach Derek Dooley, both Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, at the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young debate last month. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)
The Republican runoff for U.S. Senate will get a showdown this weekend. The GOP runoff for governor won’t.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley are set to face off Sunday in the Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk-Young Debate Series, giving voters a side-by-side look at the two Republicans competing to challenge U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.
But Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will have the debate stage Monday all to himself after billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson declined the invitation, citing a scheduling conflict.
That set off a familiar runoff ritual:
the debate-about-the-debate.
Jones, who accepted the invitation shortly after finishing first in the primary, spent the week posting a countdown clock marking how many days Jackson had gone without agreeing to the showdown.
“It’s unfortunately not surprising that Rick would back out. He can spend millions trying to fake who he is, but he can’t do that on a debate stage,” Jones said.
Jackson’s campaign countered that it already had an event planned with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and said it has accepted a Gray TV invitation for a June 14 debate.
“Burt Jones said he would debate anytime, anywhere, and we look forward to seeing him then,” the Jackson campaign said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Atlanta News First has said it’s willing to host a debate on either June 7 or June 8.
The Atlanta Press Club debates, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, will be livestreamed. Many will also air Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
