All Georgia Democrat Candidates To Speak at AME Church Candidate Forum

The Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) will hold a Day-Long Georgia Candidate Forum on Thursday, Oct. 6 and will continue Friday, Oct. 7, at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Georgia. The forum invited all of the Georgia candidates running for election to speak, including both democrats and republicans. The event will anchor AME’s Annual Mid-Year Meeting which brings together the congregations of AME’s 534 churches from around the State.  

While all candidates seeking statewide office from Georgia’s two major political parties were invited to speak, all of the Democratic Party have accepted the invitation, with only one statewide Republican Party candidate accepting the invitation.

The following speaking schedule have been confirmed of the Georgia candidates.  
 
Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m.

• Candidate for Governor – Stacey Abrams, Democrat

Thursday, Oct. 6 at 3:00 p.m. 

• Candidate for Agricultural Commissioner – Nakita Hemingway, Democrat 
• Candidate for Insurance Commissioner – Janice Laws Robinson, Democrat
• Candidate for Labor Commissioner – William Boddie, Jr., Democrat
• Candidate for Education Commissioner – Alisha Thomas Searcy, Democrat
• Candidate for Attorney General – Jen Jordan, Democrat 
• Candidates for Secretary of State – Brad Raffensperger, Republican and Bee Nguyen, Democrat
• Candidate for Lt. Governor – Charlie Bailey, Democrat

Friday, Oct 7 at 10:30 a.m.

• Candidate for US Senate – Raphael Warnock, Democrat

Politics and the Faith Community

“In 2020, the faith community came to the polls informed, organized, and energized — and the state of Georgia witnessed a historic turnout,” stated Bishop Jackson. “Even though we have seen dramatic efforts to stymie the African American vote this political cycle, those of us on the ground know we have seen nothing yet and that our faith communities are motivated like never before. Considering the strong desire to participate, the AMEs believe an informed electorate must always be the priority and takes priority over politics. Our congregants want to focus on the facts, hear from the candidates directly on the issues, meet them face to face, and not rely on what they see on television or social media to make the most informed decision.”

As a non-partisan organization, all statewide candidates of both parties were invited to the day-long event and were personally assured by Bishop Jackson that every candidate who planned to speak would be respected.  In addition to hearing from the candidates, election law expert Dr. DeForest Soaries, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church and the former state secretary of New Jersey, will launch the forum on Thursday morning with a seminar and overview on election integrity and changes in voting laws for attending congregants.