Republican House Speaker Jon Burns says Georgia is the “perfect place” to host the presidential debate because the candidates can use the state as an example for the nation.

Burns didn’t mention either candidate by name but praised the Republican-controlled General Assembly for passing tax cuts, immigration requirements and education funding.

“Our state is the perfect place to host today’s debate — not only because of our status as one of the nation’s most competitive battlegrounds, but because our strong conservative record stands in stark contrast to the D.C. polices that have made life harder for every American,” Burns wrote on X.

While Democrat Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020, a poll by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week showed Republican Donald Trump holds a 43% to 38% lead so far, outside the margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said his campaign will target middle-of-the-road voters and mainstream Republicans tired of political polarization. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC 2024)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com