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Healthcare Magnate Rick Jackson Enters Georgia Governor’s Race, Pledges $50 Million
Healthcare business owner Rick Jackson announced his candidacy for Georgia governor on Tuesday, unexpectedly disrupting what had appeared to be a settled Republican primary field for months.
Jackson, 71, joins the race to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Brian Kemp with a bold promise to invest $50 million of his personal fortune into his campaign. The billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest healthcare staffing firms with over $3 billion in annual revenue, immediately positioned himself as an outsider alternative to the established candidates.
“Career politicians are going to do nothing, get rich and keep you in the dark,” Jackson declared in his announcement. “I’m a real-life conservative who knows how to fight the tough fights and win big for Georgia.”
His entrance creates a four-way contest in the Republican primary, where he’ll face Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Attorney General Chris Carr. Jones, who has secured former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, was widely considered the GOP front-runner before Jackson’s announcement.
Jackson’s candidacy follows months of aggressive attack ads against Jones by a group called “Georgians for Integrity,” which has spent more than $13 million since November on television, mail, and digital messaging. The ads make contested claims about Jones using his office for personal enrichment, allegations Jones has dismissed as “fabricated trash.” Jackson’s campaign spokesperson Lance Trover denied any connection between the candidate and the attack ad campaign.
The four-candidate field increases the likelihood of a June 16 runoff if no candidate secures a majority in the May 19 primary. Meanwhile, seven Democratic candidates are competing to return the governor’s office to Democratic control after 24 years of Republican leadership.
Jackson’s campaign highlights his rise from foster care to business success, presenting a compelling personal narrative. His launch video and initial messaging emphasize strongly conservative positions, including support for “criminal deportations” and pledges to purge schools of “woke ideology” while banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Making tax reform central to his campaign, Jackson promised, “If we can’t cut the state income tax in half and freeze property taxes, I won’t run again.” This stance directly addresses two major tax debates currently unfolding in the Georgia Capitol.
Jackson immediately demonstrated his willingness to attack opponents, launching an advertisement portraying Raffensperger as Judas for defying Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. He also highlighted his own $1 million donation to Trump, saying, “Trump’s success inspired me to do this for Georgia.”
Despite his current embrace of Trump, Jackson’s political donation history shows broader support across Republican circles. He has previously contributed to campaigns for Carr, Raffensperger, and former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who is now running for governor as a Democrat after breaking with Trump over the 2020 election.
Jackson brings significant political connections to the race. Governor Kemp previously praised Jackson Healthcare’s role in providing medical professionals to Georgia hospitals during the pandemic. Jackson also takes credit for legislation providing free college tuition, room, and board for students from foster care or adoption through Georgia’s child welfare system.
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich quickly endorsed Jackson, writing online that “He will be a great governor of Georgia and brings compassion and business experience to the race.”
The Jones campaign dismissed Jackson’s entry, with spokesperson Kayla Lott saying, “The never-Trump lane just got way more expensive and way more crowded,” despite Jackson’s professed support for the former president.
Carr’s campaign maintained that their candidate remains best positioned to win the general election, while Raffensperger’s campaign declined to comment on Jackson’s candidacy.
The addition of another wealthy, self-funding candidate promises to make Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary even more contentious and expensive as the May election approaches.
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11 Comments
This will certainly make the GOP primary in Georgia more interesting. Jackson brings significant resources and a fresh outsider perspective to the race. It will be fascinating to see how he positions himself against the established candidates.
Jackson’s pledge to invest $50 million of his own wealth is a bold move. It shows he’s serious about shaking up the status quo and running an aggressive campaign.
It’s interesting that Jackson is framing himself as a ‘real-life conservative’ in contrast to ‘career politicians.’ That populist, anti-establishment messaging could resonate with some GOP voters.
Jackson’s personal investment of $50 million shows he’s serious about winning. But will that money translate into votes, or will voters be more swayed by the name recognition of other candidates?
The Republican primary race in Georgia just got a lot more crowded and competitive. I’m curious to see how Jackson’s business experience and personal wealth impact the dynamics of the campaign.
Jackson’s announcement adds another layer of uncertainty to the Georgia GOP primary. As a political newcomer, he’ll need to quickly establish himself as a credible and viable alternative to the other candidates.
The Georgia governor’s race just got a lot more intriguing with Jackson’s entrance. His outsider status and deep pockets could shake up the dynamics, but it remains to be seen if that’s what Republican voters are looking for.
Jackson’s pledge to ‘fight the tough fights and win big for Georgia’ suggests he’s ready to take on the establishment. It will be interesting to see how his campaign rhetoric and policy proposals evolve in the coming months.
As someone with a background in healthcare, Jackson could bring a unique angle to the policy discussions around issues like Medicaid expansion and rural hospital access. It will be worth watching how he frames these topics.
Jackson seems to be positioning himself as a political outsider and conservative reformer. Will voters in Georgia embrace that message, or will they stick with more established Republican figures?
As a healthcare business owner, Jackson may be able to offer a unique perspective on issues like rural healthcare access and cost control. But will that expertise be enough to overcome the political experience of his opponents?