LIVE: Jon Ossoff Holds MAJOR RALLY…in Atlanta!!

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor, outlined her key policy commitments. These include expanding Medicaid, ensuring access to mental health care, lowering housing costs by cracking down on corporate landlords, providing pre-K for every 4-year-old, raising teacher salaries and eliminating their state income taxes, and creating pathways for free technical and community college.

Bottoms stated, 'I'll get it done on day one to expand Medicaid... I'll make sure Georgians can access the health care coverage they deserve, including coverage for mental health care.' She also committed to 'crack down on corporate landlords,' 'make sure that pre-K is available for every 4-year-old,' 'raise our teachers' salaries... and eliminate their state income taxes,' and 'create a pathway for free technical and community college.'

Senator Jon Ossoff launched a strong attack on the previous administration, citing rising prices across essential goods like ground beef (up 25%), coffee (up 40%), and gas (up 33%). He also highlighted a significant loss of manufacturing jobs, increased credit card debt, and a decline in consumer sentiment. Ossoff accused the administration of corruption, pointing to a $1.8 billion 'slush fund' and alleged self-dealing in foreign mining deals involving the former president's family.

Ossoff stated, 'Ground beef's up 25% since Trump was sworn in. Coffee, 40%. The price of gas, 33%.' He also detailed how the former president 'settled the suit with himself to create a $1.8 billion slush fund so he can cut checks to cronies and Jan 6 foot soldiers.' He further described a tungsten mining deal in Kazakhstan involving the former president's sons, funded by $1.6 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Ossoff detailed a severe healthcare emergency in Georgia, characterized by the refusal to expand Medicaid, leading to 21 hospital closures in 20 years and the closure of a labor and delivery unit due to Medicaid cuts. He noted Georgia has the second-highest uninsured rate, third-fewest mental health providers, and fourth-worst newborn weight at birth, resulting in a lower life expectancy than in Lebanon.

Ossoff explained, 'Georgia lost 21 hospitals in 20 years... 40% of all Georgia kids are covered by Medicaid. 50% of all Georgia births are covered by Medicaid. 70% of all Georgia seniors in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid.' He added, 'your life expectancy is shorter than if you were born today in Lebanon.'

Both speakers emphasized the critical importance of protecting voting rights, especially in Georgia, which they referred to as the 'cradle of the civil rights movement.' They criticized efforts to suppress votes, manipulate electoral maps, and attack elected officials, framing these actions as attempts to undermine democracy. They called for a massive mobilization to ensure every voice is heard.

Bottoms stated, 'Georgians certainly will not sit by as those same leaders threaten the voting rights that generations before us fought, bled, and even died for.' Ossoff added, 'How foolish of them to come to the cradle of the civil rights movement to spread those lies and seize those ballots.'