Stacey Abrams and Gov. Brian Kemp clashed in a fiery discussion Monday night time that centered on support for law enforcement, the Next Amendment, and promises of voter suppression that incited a number of back-and-forths between the two.

The debate was hosted in Atlanta by the Atlanta Press Club and was the very first experience off between the two candidates given that they to start with ran against each individual other in 2018. Also provided was Libertarian applicant Shane Hazel.

Abrams was questioned early on in the discussion about her refusal to concede to Kemp in the 2018 election, which confirmed she misplaced by a lot less than 60,000 votes, and if she would acknowledge the effects of this election. Abrams responded that she "acknowledged" Kemp received the election in 2018, but pointed to a quantity of scenarios she claimed voters in Georgia were being denied the correct to vote that yr.

"As governor, I intend to stand up for the ideal to vote. I will normally acknowledge the result of elections, but I will hardly ever deny accessibility to every single voter because that is the responsibility of each and every American, to protect the ideal to vote," Abrams extra whilst suggesting Kemp was participating in voter suppression via Georgia's voting legislation.

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Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams and incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp clashed in a debate hosted by the Atlanta Push Club on Oct 17, 2022. (Screenshot/PBS)

When given an chance to rebut Abrams' reply, Kemp argued Abrams was going to attack his document "because she doesn't want to converse about her individual file."

"In 2018 in the governors race we experienced the greatest African American turnout in the country," he reported, ahead of referencing the election bill he signed into law past yr that Abrams dubbed "Jim Crow 2.."

"Just this earlier Could, in our primaries, we once more had file turnout in the Republican major and the Democratic key. In Ga, it can be straightforward to vote and tough to cheat," he additional.

Abrams pushed back again on his response, stating that "voter suppression" was "the hallmark of Brian Kemp's leadership."

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Through a element of the discussion that authorized candidates to talk to just about every other questions, Kemp noted how quite a few sheriffs throughout the condition experienced endorsed his marketing campaign and questioned Abrams how a lot of experienced endorsed her.

Abrams argued Kemp was attempting "to keep on the lie" that she was not a supporter of legislation enforcement, and went on to tout do the job she had carried out with law enforcement as an Atlanta city personnel.

"Ms. Abrams refused to response the concern, so I am going to permit you know that the response is zero," Kemp responded, heading on to describe businesses she was tied to that he reported supported the "Defund the Police" movement.

Abrams accused Kemp of lying and mentioned once again that she did have support from law enforcement.

Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams speaks with WHD News' Brandon Gillespie following a rally with the Asian-American group in Gwinnett County, Georgia on Oct 7, 2022. (Brandon Gillespie)

Afterwards in the debate, Abrams blasted Kemp for "weakening" Georgia's gun regulations and "flooding" the streets with more firearms that she claimed was contributing to the boost in gun crimes throughout the point out.

Kemp insisted that he was going following the perpetrators of gun crimes, and that his general public basic safety system included stiffer penalties for associates of gangs who had been recruiting young children to be a part of. 

Abrams argued that avenue gangs weren't the kinds who purchased a firearm and killed a selection of Asian girls in a few Atlanta-region spas in 2021, referencing the tragic shooting by alleged perpetrator Robert Aaron Long that year that resulted in the deaths of 8 folks.

She mentioned that she was the only candidate in the race calling for grants to fund the recruitment of a lot more law enforcement officers to combat the rise in criminal offense.

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When criticized by Hazel for seeking to tighten gun guidelines, Abrams stated, "I think we can protect the Second Amendment and 2nd-graders at the actual exact same time."

She then reiterated her phone calls to boost the qualifications examine system for firearm purchases with a estimate from former President Ronald Reagan. "Believe in but confirm," she reported.

Kemp pushed back, pointing to federal qualifications checks presently in put for the getting of firearms, but Abrams argued that was not real for private gun sales.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp waves all through his key evening election occasion at the Chick-fil-A School Football Hall of Fame on May perhaps 24, 2022, in Atlanta, Ga. (Joe Raedle/Getty Visuals)

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WHD News' Energy Rankings has rated the race as "lean Republican."

The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8.