EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: VP Kamala Harris says Georgia plays important role in upcoming election

ATLANTA — Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with Channel 2 Action News during her Atlanta trip to discuss issues Georgia voters face.

On Friday, Harris headlined the Democratic Party of Georgia’s fundraising event in Atlanta.

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During the event, Channel 2′s Karyn Greer sat down with Harris for an exclusive interview and asked for her thoughts on some issues that are on the minds of Georgians.

“Georgia is important, period,” Harris said in response to Greer’s question about the state’s role in the upcoming election.

During the race for governor in 2022, Channel 2′s Richard Elliot spoke with Kennesaw State University political science professor Kerwin Swint who said that Georgia is such a prominent state that both parties have to do everything they can to energize their bases to go out and vote.

Greer also asked Harris about her thoughts on gun safety laws after the midtown Atlanta mass shooting.

“Our administration is responsible for the first significant piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years, and what we have been able to do is expand background checks and increase mental health awareness,” the vice president told Greer.

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Since the shooting, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens asked Georgia lawmakers for something to be done in response to the tragedy.

In Channel 2 Action News exclusive interview with Governor Brian Kemp, he told Elliot he has no plans to call a special session, even as he tries to get more information about the shootings in midtown and Moultrie.

“I think there’s a lot of politicians posturing right now, which is unfortunate. What I’m doing is I’m continuing to gather the facts on this individual and what are the circumstances as to why this happened,” Kemp explained.

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The Georgia Republican Party sent Channel 2 Action News the following statement regarding the vice president’s Friday visit:

“It’s deplorable that the Vice President is coming to Atlanta for a fundraiser campaigning while the border crisis is overflowing and we have out-of-control inflation.”

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