The two Republican candidates for Georgia governor who are headed to a June 16 runoff election are sparring with each other over the scheduling of a potential debate before voters head to the polls.
Rick Jackson, a political outsider, and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones are accusing each other of refusing to agree on a date for a one-on-one debate.
Lt. Gov. Jones accepted the Atlanta Press Club's June 1 debate offer, which is exactly one week before early voting starts. However, Jackson said he had a scheduling conflict on June 1, and then announced he accepted a debate offer from Gray Media for June 14.
Jones has made several posts on X criticizing Jackson's decision to decline to debate on June 1, at one point accusing Jackson of trying to buy the governorship.
"The $100 million man who wants to buy the governorship here in the state of Georgia has declined to come on stage with me and debate the issues," Jones said in one video.
I'm ready to debate any time, any place.
Why won't Rick Jackson debate on June 1st? pic.twitter.com/vXrs6kljIF
— Burt Jones (@burtjonesforga) May 22, 2026
In another post, Jones said, "Georgia voters are important enough to me to never have a scheduling conflict."
Jackson has posted similar videos accusing Jones of refusing his debate offer on his X account.
"We were the first to commit to any debate - why won’t Burt Jones follow suit?" Jackson wrote in the caption of one post. "I guess he just doesn’t want to answer for the last 14 years of putting his family’s bottom line before Georgia families."
We were the first to commit to any debate - why won’t Burt Jones follow suit? I guess he just doesn’t want to answer for the last 14 years of putting his family’s bottom line before Georgia families. pic.twitter.com/bVSuNNicaR
— Rick Jackson (@RickJacksonGA) May 24, 2026
"Burt said 'any time any place' but after we accepted a debate, he’s backing away?" Jackson wrote in another post.
The media outlets said they would host a debate on any mutually agreed upon date.
