Political Rewind: Nearly 300K Georgians cast ballots; Tuesday's debates center down-ballot races

Caption

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger debated his challengers, Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen and Libertarian Ted Metz.

Credit: GPB/Screenshot

The panel: 

Greg Bluestein, @bluestein, political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Matt Brown, @mrbrownsir, democracy reporter, Washington Post

Meg Kinnard, @MegKinnardAP, national politics reporter, Associated Press

The breakdown:

1. Nearly 300,000 Georgians have already cast their ballot in the Peach State. 

• Georgiavotes.com reports 291,740 people have already voted. 
  • 35% of the early turnout is of Black voters. 
  • Women also lead the early electorate at 53%. 

2. Democrats get star power in the final push in midterms. 

• Oprah Winfrey will come out and campaign with Stacey Abrams. 
• Tony award-winning playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda will campaign for Sen. Raphael Warnock. 

3. Abortion rights take center stage nationally, and in Georgia's attorney general debate. 

• President Joe Biden vowed that if voters elect more Democratic senators and keep the House, he will send a bill to Congress to codify abortion protections into law.
• Abrams releases a new ad centering couples who have had miscarriages to highlight strict abortion. 
• Abortion was a large theme in the debate for attorney general. 
  • Candidate and state Sen. Jen Jordan (D) said Georgia's six-week abortion ban could prosecute women.
  • Incumbent Chris Carr (R) said the intent of the law is not to prosecute women. 
  • Libertarian Martin Cowan also shared the debate stage. 

4. Secretary of State debate distinguishes the incumbent and newcomers. 

• Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger debated his challengers, Democratic state Rep. Bee Nguyen and Libertarian Ted Metz.

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