Overview
- The only statewide televised debate, held Tuesday night, reinforced sharp contrasts on ties to President Trump, data centers, election oversight and Medicaid.
- Jackson has poured tens of millions of his own money into the race and outspends Bottoms roughly seven-to-one on advertising, creating a large air‑wave advantage.
- On data centers Bottoms called for a statewide moratorium and cited local environmental and tax concerns while Jackson proposed a three‑part test requiring community approval, EPA standards and direct local relief and denied owning data centers.
- Bottoms accused Jackson of supporting tougher enforcement that could include the National Guard and cited a past remark she said proved it; Jackson flatly denied ever proposing Guard deployment and said that claim is false.
- With polls showing a slim Jackson lead and the contest rated a toss-up, early voting starts Oct. 13 and both campaigns must now focus on intensive voter contact and turnout to decide whether the race goes to a November majority or a December runoff.