Peach Tree Times

Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) and his GOP primary challenger, former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, squared off over who was most responsible for the party's 2020 and 2021 election losses in their first governor's debate last week.

Among arguments, FOX 5 Atlanta reports that Perdue put the blame on Kemp for Democratic control in Washington, while the governor alleged Perdue was merely attempting to pass on the blame for his own loss to Democrat Jon Ossoff. 

"I don’t need to be lectured by someone (who) lost their last election about what our voting laws are and who has responsibilities for those in our state," Kemp said during the debate, according to FOX 5.

U.S. Sen. David Perdue | Wikimedia Commons

Throughout the debate, Perdue continued to support debunked claims that Democrats didn't legitimately win the 2020 presidential election or the 2021 U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia, while Kemp argued that Perdue was lying to voters by claiming he allowed a settlement agreement over how signatures on absentee ballots were verified in elections.

Federal and state election officials, as well as former President Donald Trump’s attorney general, have said there is no credible evidence that the 2020 election had been stolen. 

Republicans Catherine Davis, Kandiss Taylor and Tom Williams — who were excluded from Sunday’s debate — will join the ballot alongside Kemp and Perdue. While Perdue has earned the endorsement of Trump, the governor has maintained the lead in fundraising and in the polls as he remains hopeful for a second term. 

This marks the first of three debates ahead of the midterm primary election next month. The next debate is scheduled for May 1, and voters are slated to go to the polls on May 24, with a runoff June 21 if needed.