Georgia’s three nominees for the state’s top legal job clashed over abortion, guns, crime and even oil pipelines during a debate Tuesday in Atlanta.
Much of the debate centered on how each would approach the state’s controversial “heartbeat” abortion law, which bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Democratic Senator and Attorney Jen Jordan of Atlanta has been a vocal opponent of the bill. She has previously indicated that if she were elected attorney general, she would not push through.
During Tuesday’s debate, Jordan said she believes Georgia’s abortion law violates the state constitution.
“I think what we need to pay special attention to is the right to privacy in the constitution of the state of Georgia, which was first established in 1905,” she said.
“I’ve stood up for the women of this state, fought to protect victims of human trafficking, fought to protect victims of gangs, fought for those who are being taken advantage of from an elder abuse standpoint,” Acting Republican Attorney General Chris Carr said Answer .
Georgia’s abortion law does not allow a pregnant woman to be prosecuted, Carr said, and Jordan’s claim was scaremongering.
“If anyone, it’s him [medical] Providers provided for in this law,” he said. “The decision rests with the prosecutors.”
Jordan hit back, noting that Georgia’s abortion law states that an embryo is a person and this new legal definition could allow pregnant women to be prosecuted.
“If we think about the murder statute, the manslaughter statute … the child molestation statute, all of these would actually apply … to a pregnant woman if she harmed the embryo,” Jordan said. “It is ridiculous to say that this law does not allow a prosecutor to prosecute a woman because it is clear that it does.”
The candidates have also fought over crime. Carr cited his track record of prosecuting human trafficking and gang crime. He also said Jordan missed many important votes — including on crime laws — while she was in the state legislature.
Jordan said crime in the state has increased by over 60% and that Carr has done nothing to address the problem.
She said she is a supporter of the Second Amendment but believes in gun control measures like red flags and safe-keeping laws.
“As the next attorney general, I will work with local police departments and agencies to get illegal guns off the streets and out of violent street gangs,” Jordan vowed.
Carr also condemned the role of federal hyperbole and campaigned for his support of free enterprise and competition in Georgia.
“First, I believe in the power of free enterprise,” he said. “I believe in the rule of law”
Carr cited his decision to join other states in a lawsuit over an executive order issued by President Joe Biden to stop construction of the Keystone pipeline.
“I’ve spent the last six years trying to protect lives, livelihoods and freedom,” Carr said. “By fighting for the Constitution, I’m fighting for American jobs, lower gas prices, and less dependence on evil regimes that hate us.”
In response, Jordan accused Carr of focusing more on filing lawsuits against the federal government than prosecuting crimes.
“People in this state don’t feel safe,” she said. “He actually sued the Biden administration more than he prosecuted gangs or sex traffickers.”
Libertarian Martin Cowen also chimed in, taking Carr’s position against federal hyperbole but agreeing with Jordan’s stance on protecting abortion rights.
Like Jordan and Carr, Cowen graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law.
“The next Attorney General for the state of Georgia should be a law school graduate from the University of Georgia,” Cowen said. “Go Dawgs!”
Early voting in Georgia lasts until November 4th, the last Friday before Election Day, November 8th.
This story is available through a news partnership with the Capitol Beat News Service, a Georgia Press Educational Foundation project.
