Georgia Gubernatorial Race Intensifies as Candidate’s Business Criticizes Trump Healthcare Act

A billionaire candidate in Georgia’s hotly contested gubernatorial race is facing scrutiny over apparent contradictions between his campaign messaging and policy positions taken by one of his companies. Rick Jackson, who has repeatedly positioned himself as the most pro-Trump candidate in the race, is navigating questions after a healthcare firm within his business empire publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s signature healthcare legislation.

Despite Jackson’s campaign trail assertions that there is “no bigger supporter of Trump right now than I am,” Jackson Physician Search, a subsidiary of Jackson Healthcare, has published multiple documents criticizing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a landmark Republican legislative package that Trump championed and signed into law last year.

The company’s website stated in September 2025 that the bill’s “sweeping cuts to Medicaid and ACA programs raise serious concerns about access, equity, and sustainability,” warning that some hospitals might need to “adapt or close their doors.” A February 2026 recruitment report from the same company projected that the law would cause “between 10 and 15 million people” to lose health coverage, while claiming Medicare and Medicaid cuts were creating “significant financial pressure” across healthcare organizations.

When questioned about the apparent contradiction, Jackson campaign spokesperson Mike Schrimpf told reporters, “Rick supports the Big Beautiful Bill. Period.” Schrimpf added that Jackson, who grew up in public housing, “believes in the dignity of work and is a strong proponent of work requirements for that reason,” noting that Democrats have been attacking Jackson for his support of the OBBBA for months.

At a recent campaign event in Thomasville, Georgia, Jackson defended parts of the legislation, particularly its work requirements, saying they motivate people to be productive and transition off Medicaid. “The worst thing that we can do is tell people — is get people relying on government where they have no incentive to work,” Jackson told constituents. “It’s the most dehumanizing thing that you can do. God made us to be productive.”

The controversy highlights the increasingly heated Republican primary race for Georgia governor, which features several high-profile candidates including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Jackson and Jones, in particular, have engaged in an escalating battle over who is most aligned with Trump.

Trump has already endorsed Jones, but Jackson has sought to position himself as the candidate who would be “Trump’s favorite governor.” He has even donated $1 million to the president’s political action committee, MAGA Inc., less than two months before entering the race in February. Jackson has also drawn criticism for making substantial donations to Trump’s former GOP rivals during the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Meanwhile, Jackson Physician Search senior leadership has continued to express concerns about the healthcare law. Senior Vice President of Recruiting Tara Osseck stated that “recent policy changes — including provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and increased fees affecting international visas — are adding new layers of complexity to an already challenging physician recruitment environment.”

The company’s materials have warned that the OBBBA would exacerbate physician burnout, likely force rural hospitals to close, discourage potential medical students from pursuing careers as physicians, and worsen the existing doctor shortage. Regional Vice President Tonya Hamlin specifically cautioned that the bill’s reforms to federal student loan programs could make medical education less accessible, particularly for lower-income students.

“These reforms could force students to absorb the difference through private loans or personal resources,” Hamlin wrote. “They could also cause lower-income students to reconsider attendance altogether.”

The Republican gubernatorial primary is scheduled for May 19, with the first and only debate between candidates set for Monday. The outcome will determine who advances to the general election in a state that has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles.