Rick Jackson spends $87 million on Georgia governor ad campaign

Republican billionaire Rick Jackson announced an initial $87 million advertising buy for his campaign for governor of Georgia, describing it as the largest general‑election purchase in the race and pledging to reach voters in all 159 counties. His Democratic opponent, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, responded by highlighting Jackson’s business ties to the state, noting that his company Jackson Healthcare earned more than $1 billion from taxpayer‑funded contracts while rural hospitals closed and some Georgians lost coverage.

Jackson has promoted his business background, referencing his upbringing as a foster‑care child and a self‑made billionaire, while the campaign has clashed with Bottoms over his visits to Black‑owned establishments and accusations that he opposes diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The controversy intensified after Bottoms posted a video alleging hypocrisy, and after Jackson’s supporters called for a boycott of a Black‑owned brunch spot he visited. Jackson made remarks alongside President Donald Trump at a rally in Cobb County, asserting his opponent wants to “cut down businesses and cancel them.”