ATLANTA — Karen Handel wants voters in Atlanta's northern suburbs to stick with a Republican in Congress, just like they've done since 1979. Democrat Jon Ossoff says Georgia's 6th Congressional District should make a change.
The two rivals faced-off Tuesday evening in their only prime-time televised debate, two weeks ahead of a June 20 election that has garnered national attention and an avalanche of spending.
Republican Karen Handel says her opponent in a nationally watched Georgia congressional race is nothing but a tool of national Democrats.
Handel mentioned House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California about a dozen times during a Tuesday debate with Jon Ossoff. The two candidates meet in a June 20 special election in Georgia's 6th Congressional District.
Ossoff counters that he's an "independent voice" and will "work with anyone" in Washington. He said it's Handel who is the partisan rubber stamp. He points to her support for President Donald Trump's tax policies and the GOP health care bill pending in the Senate.
The race is viewed as the latest measure of how Trump and the Republican-run Congress are faring with voters outside Washington ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
8:55 p.m. both candidates now get 1 minute for closing remarks.
8:53 p.m. What would be the most important thing to keep Georgia's economy strong, or make it stronger?
Handel says repeal and replace Obamacare. Ossoff says wasteful spending.
8:51 p.m. What issue will you not bend on?
8:48 p.m. WSB Radio's Condace Pressley asks candidates about reaching across the aisle to get legislation moved forward.
8:47 p.m. A viewer question about a livable wage.
8:46 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot asks about religious freedom laws.
8:40 p.m. Each candidates gets to ask each other a question.
8:37 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer asks about President's Trump's tax reform proposal.
8:33 p.m. AJC's Greg Bluestein asks about infrastructure
8:24 p.m. WSB Radio's Condace Pressley now asking candidates about healthcare. How do you sell the GOP healthcare bill to the 6th District?
8:21 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer to candidates: Would you go to war with Iran?
8:18 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot: Do we still want to be the leader of the free world?
8:15 p.m. Greg Bluestein asks candidates about where they differ from President Trumps policies.
8:10 p.m. Justin Farmer asks about campaign fundraising.
8:08 p.m. Condace Pressley asks Handel about fundraising by Greg Gianforte:
8:03 p.m. Justin Farmer gives first question about terrorism. Karen Handel goes first.
8 p.m. The 6th District Debate gets underway
7:55 p.m. The candidates are in the studio and ready for the debate
7:50 p.m. The candidates have arrived and are preparing to face-off
7:35 p.m. Our panelists are ready to go:
7:30 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer giving one last look at the script for tonight's debate:
6:40 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot and the AJC's Greg Bluestein hold a preshow Facebook live ahead of tonight's debate.
4:45 p.m. Justin Farmer finishes up rehearsal as he gets ready to moderate tonight's debate: