Jeremy Hunt, Chris West to debate ahead of GA’s 2nd Congressional District GOP runoff
Republicans Jeremy Hunt and Chris West will square off Monday afternoon in a debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club ahead of this month’s runoff to determine who will face incumbent Sanford Bishop in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.
The 30-minute debate will be live-streamed on the Atlanta Press Club’s Facebook page and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Both Hunt and West have confirmed they will participate.
Jennifer Bellamy of Atlanta news station 11Alive will be the moderator. Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams and Ledger-Enquirer reporter Nick Wooten will be the panelists.
Debates for the pair were advertised at the Muscogee County GOP headquarters (5367 Veterans Parkway) on June 7 and in Thomasville on June 9.
However, Hunt spokesperson Taylor Johnson told the Ledger-Enquirer that Hunt will not attend those two debates, citing a close connection between West and GA 2nd District GOP Chair Brandon Phillips.
“The two debates are hoax debates sponsored by supporters of our opponent and Jeremy looks forward to debating Chris on Monday,” Johnson said.
About the candidates
Hunt is a 28-year-old former U.S. Army Captain and Fox News commentator who recently moved to Columbus. He is a Georgia native who left Yale Law School to enter the race, the Associated Press reports. He registered to vote in Muscogee County in February 2022, according to voting data maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
West, 38, is an attorney for a Thomasville real estate development company and an officer in the Georgia Air National Guard.
Hunt was the top vote-getter in May’s primary, securing 22,923 or 36.97% of the vote. West finished second with 18,658 votes or just over 30%.
Former opponents Wayne Johnson, Vivian Childs and Paul Whitehead have all endorsed West since the May primary.
The winner will face Bishop in November’s general election. The race will likely be Georgia’s most closely contested Congressional race.
The runoff will be held June 21. Early voting begins June 13.
The Second Congressional District covers southwest Georgia, including most of Columbus and Macon.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 1:34 PM with the headline "Jeremy Hunt, Chris West to debate ahead of GA’s 2nd Congressional District GOP runoff."