This week, the GOP’s “bare knuckle fight” for governor flew further off the rails as billionaire Rick Jackson boasted about profiting off Trump’s policies that are hurting Georgia, Trump-endorsed Burt Jones took the “rare step” of lacing into his Republican rival on the floor of the State Senate, and the entire GOP field continued staking out extreme and unpopular positions. The GOP race to the right is hurting Republicans’ chances in the general election, with Sabato’s Crystal Ball moving the race to a Toss-Up this week – and National Journal naming Georgia the likeliest governor’s race to flip to a Democrat in 2026.
Here’s more on what’s become of one of the nastiest – and most expensive – GOP gov primary races in Georgia history:
JACKSON ADMITS TO PROFITING OFF TARIFFS, TRUMP TAX LAW THAT IS HURTING GEORGIA: Jackson has repeatedly shown just how out-of-touch he is with Georgia – and new reporting from American Journal News reveals he bragged about profiting off policies that hurt Georgia families.
- American Journal News revealed Friday that at a campaign stop in Thomasville on March 6, Jackson boasted about paying 40% less in taxes because of Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ – even as this harmful legislation has jacked up costs, killed jobs, and stripped hundreds of thousands of Georgians of health care.
- And at the same event, Jackson also bragged about profiting off Trump’s tariffs as the stock market crashed, boasting that he made “an 80% return in four weeks” even as these tariffs jacked up costs and hurt Georgia’s economy so much that now our state’s soybean farmers are now pleading that no further tariffs be imposed on them.
- And in an eyebrow-raising moment from an interview with WTOC’s Shea Schrader on March 13, Jackson admitted that he that he had “no idea what you’re talking about” in response to a question about the $30 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant designed to help Savannah reduce the risk of flooding before the Trump Administration cancelled it in April 2025. It’s just the latest sign that he’s out of touch with Georgia – and unwilling to listen to Georgians who are being hurt by harmful policies coming out of Washington.
JONES BRUTALLY ATTACKS JACKSON’S BUSINESS DEALINGS: Trump-endorsed Jones took to the floor of the Georgia State Senate to blast GOP rival Rick Jackson’s billion-dollar health care company, calling it the “culprit of our health care costs in this state more than tripling” and accusing it of “monopolizing” the health care industry.
- Jones’ attack – which he made in his capacity as Lieutenant Governor – was a particularly “rare step” that highlights how nasty this Republican primary has become.
- In response, Jackson’s campaign fired back, saying that “the walls are closing in on [Jones’] corrupt behavior” and “he’s melting down on the Senate floor and telling more lies.” Jackson’s campaign also added: “Daddy’s baby needs his bottle and a nap.”
- This comes as Jones has led a push to prevent candidates with state contracts from running for state office, which the AJC reported “would make billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson ineligible to run for governor.” Jones has hammered Jackson for pocketing “over $1 billion in state contracts on the backs of Georgia taxpayers.”
GLOVES CONTINUE TO COME OFF – ONLINE AND ON THE AIRWAVES: The candidates continued spending big to destroy one another, with Jackson and Jones already spending more than $52 million combined – double what Gov. Kemp spent his entire 2018 election – in what AJC Politically Georgia podcast Thursday called a “rapidly intensifying Republican primary.”
- On Monday, Jackson launched BribeBurt.com – an interactive microsite with brutal attacks on Jones’ record of self-enrichment – and later in the week, Jackson’s campaign also announced a ‘Bribe Burt Tip Line’ to report instances of Jones self-dealing. The campaign further mocked Jones Friday by having costumed individuals dressed as Bert and Ernie come to the State Capitol to draw more attention to the Bribe Burt website.
- Jackson’s campaign followed up on Tuesday with a new ad – titled ‘Jackpot’ – viciously going after Jones for enriching his family in public office.
- In a Sunday interview with Atlanta News First’s Doug Reardon, Jones doubled down on his belief that Jackson is behind a mysterious dark money group that’s spent $19 million attacking his record of self-dealing.
- In the same interview, Jackson accused Carr of “not doing his job” as Attorney General, attacked Raffensperger for “not following the law” as Secretary of State, and once again labeled all of his Republican rivals as “Never-Trumpers.”
- And in social media posts throughout the week, Jones went after Jackson on a series of wide-ranging attacks, calling Jackson a “political chameleon,” accusing him of being in an “ivory tower” rather than interacting with real Georgians, doubling down on calling his opponent “Slick Rick”, and labeling him a “RINO with a record.”
MAGA CIVIL WAR EXPLODES AS CANDIDATES CONTINUE RACING RIGHT: Jones, Jackson, Carr, and Raffensperger continued to prove just how out-of-touch they are as they push extreme policies non-stop that are deeply out of touch with people of Georgia.
- New data from the Joint Economic Committee this week revealed that Georgians are now spending $120 more on average each year for power. This comes as Trump’s budget bill – which all the GOP candidates enthusiastically supported – has jacked up costs on everything from food to fuel and everything in between.
- The candidates continue trying to out-MAGA each other. In a Sunday interview with Atlanta News First’s Doug Reardon, Jones touted that he’d “been with Trump since day one.” It was also revealed this week that Trump personally asked Jackson to introduce himself at a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, once again doubling down on his claim that he’s going to be “Trump’s favorite governor.”
The GOP race to the right is hurting Republicans’ chances in the general election: As Republicans continue staking out extreme positions, National Journal on Wednesday named Georgia the likeliest governor’s race to flip to a Democrat in 2026 – followed by Sabato’s Crystal Ball moving the race to a Toss-Up on Thursday.
- Sabato’s Crystal Ball also called Georgia the “clearest Democratic pickup opportunity” in 2026.
- This is just the latest sign that Georgians are ready to reject the GOP’s cost-raising chaos and elect a strong Democratic governor in November.
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