NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedOctober 25, 2026Miami-Dade County
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson self-funds campaign while balancing Trump alliance and moderate appeal
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson has personally spent nearly $200 million on his Georgia campaign while navigating a complex political tightrope between aligning with President Donald Trump and projecting a softer, working-class persona. The 72-year-old healthcare magnate faces Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Nov. 3 election, clashing over issues ranging from state healthcare partnerships to minimum wage and immigration policies.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The gubernatorial race will determine the state's leadership and policy direction on taxes, healthcare expansion, and immigration in a key swing state.
Key Facts
- Republican candidate Rick Jackson has personally spent nearly $200 million on his Georgia gubernatorial campaign, making him one of the largest self-funding candidates in American history.
- Jackson faces Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, in the Nov. 3 election.
- During the primary, Jackson defeated a field that included Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who had secured Donald Trump's endorsement in August 2025.
- Jackson has pledged to cut the state income tax in half within four years or refuse to seek a second term.
- Jackson proposes expanding healthcare coverage through private insurer partnerships rather than expanding traditional Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
- When asked about the minimum wage during a debate, Jackson referenced $7.50 an hour, while Georgia's minimum wage is $7.25, and Bottoms has proposed doubling it.
Who's Mentioned
locationAtlanta“Location mentioned in campaign context and former mayoral tenure of Keisha Lance”locationPerry“Location of a campaign rally.”locationCleveland“Conservative enclave in the north Georgia mountains where Jackson held an event.”locationWhite County“Location of a Jackson rally attended by supporters.”locationDalton“Location of a presidential visit on Oct. 16.”OrganizationJackson Healthcare“Provides contract nurses and workers to hospitals and health systems.”PersonRick Jackson“Healthcare magnate, investor, and self-funding gubernatorial candidate.”locationGeorgia“Swing state where the election takes place.”locationMarietta“Location where Jackson stood with Trump in July.”PersonDebbie Satterfield“Voter who attended a Jackson rally in White County.”PersonDonald Trump“Attended campaign rallies with Rick Jackson and previously endorsed Burt Jones.”PersonKeisha Lance Bottoms“Former Atlanta mayor and opponent to Rick Jackson.”PersonBurt Jones“Republican primary competitor who won Trump's endorsement in August 2025.”