FOREST PARK, GA. – The latest Georgia gubernatorial forum took place in Clayton County on Saturday evening, and for the first time this year, it included only the four Black men running for the state’s top seat.
If you add that the moderating and invocation were handled by Black men as well, tonight’s forum was a first of its kind for 2026.
Living Faith Tabernacle in Forest Park hosted a forum hosted by the Clayton County Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of Clayton County.
Clayton County is both the seventh-largest county in the state and the largest majority Black county in the state. For any and all gubernatorial candidates, a good showing in Clayton County bodes well for a winning ticket in May and November.
Only four of the six current Democratic gubernatorial candidates took time to show up in Clayton County tonight: former pastor Olu Brown, former Georgia State Senator Jason Esteves, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, and current State Rep. Derrick Jackson took their seats on stage inside the church’s sanctuary. Each made a minute-long introduction.
“This is a very critical year for us,” said Jackson, who made several references to the fact that he was the only man on stage who didn’t have the word “former” before his political affiliation and experience.
“Good leaders always have the next vision. You need to elect a governor who is respected throughout the United States,” said Brown, who was in his element on stage in a church.
Dr. Robert L. Burton, a veteran of the United States military and a member of the Association of Christian Ministers of Clayton County, delivered the invocation. The current events of the world found their way into his prayer.
“We’re fighting a war we didn’t ask for, we didn’t approve of, but nevertheless, we’re in it. So we pray for our military,” Burden said.
Photo by Miles Pierre/Intern/The Atlanta Voice
The forum was moderated by Keith Horton, the president and CEO of Christian City, and also a United States military veteran.
The candidates were asked pre-screened questions about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has a large portion located in Clayton County; healthcare access and affordability; leadership; and housing affordability. There were also questions from the audience, including how to protect voters’ rights and information following the FBI raid in Union City last month, how to help Clayton County move from its current Tier 1 status to a higher one, and Georgia’s nearly $15-billion-dollar surplus.
Regarding the rainy day fund, Esteves said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp shouldn’t be proud of the money the state has in its coffers, because that means he failed to use it to help Georgians. “I will tell you that while the Governor celebrates having $14.6 billion of your tax dollars in the bank account, I don’t celebrate that,” Esteves said. “If I ran my household like that, my wife would divorce me.”
Photo by Miles Pierre/Intern/The Atlanta Voice
The two-hour forum also addressed raising the state’s minimum wage and how artificial intelligence (AI) is hurting the workforce, particularly in a Tier 1 county like Clayton.
“We can’t even be janitors nowadays,” Jackson said, following a story he shared about a janitor at a local QuikTrip who no longer works there. In his place is a robot, according to Jackson.
On protecting voting rights in Georgia, Esteves said, “The first thing we have to do is stop the bully in the White House. We have to speak out against what Donald Trump is doing.”
Forest Park Mayor Dr. Gwen Ellison and State Rep. Rhonda Burnough (D-77) also took a moment to welcome the candidates and attendees. Burnough spoke about House Bill 942, which, if passed, would bring $55 million to Clayton County from the airport. Burnough added that the bill would not cost Delta Air Lines any money or affect the City of Atlanta’s budget.
“Unless it’s going to benefit Clayton County, Clayton County Public schools, and the seven cities, we won’t take it,” Burnough said.