Republican Rick Jackson enters Georgia governor’s race in surprise move

Billing himself as a pro-Donald Trump, straight-shooting outsider with nothing to lose, Jackson is hoping his deep bank account and rags-to-riches background will help him overcome three veteran GOP contenders.

His entry immediately makes him a force in a fluid race for the GOP nomination, now led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who secured Trump’s endorsement months ago. Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are also jostling for position ahead of the May primary.

The move stunned Georgia political leaders and activists who long assumed the field on both sides of the aisle was largely set. Instead, the 71-year-old political newcomer will test whether his wealth, business background and outsider appeal can compensate for his lack of campaign experience.

Credit: Bob Andres / AJC

Credit: Bob Andres / AJC

Jackson could pose the most significant threat to Jones, who has already been battered by nearly $14 million in attack ads from an anonymous group called Georgians for Integrity. A Jackson aide said he had no involvement in the blitz, though speculation has swirled in political circles about who is bankrolling the effort.

Jones will almost certainly try to brand him as a “Never Trumper,” as he has with other rivals, pointing out that Jackson’s first contribution to Trump’s campaign came only in December in the form of a $1 million check to his campaign PAC.

It sets the stage for what could become the most expensive governor’s race in Georgia history. Jones’ father, Bill Jones, runs a sprawling petroleum, insurance and logistics empire, and the lieutenant governor has already loaned his campaign $10 million.

“Guess we’re about to see how much more money Burt’s daddy actually has,” said Charlie Bailey, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia who lost to Jones in 2022.

‘Simple as that’

Jackson is a first-time candidate, but he’s not new to state politics. He’s a longtime donor to conservative causes and candidates, including backing Geoff Duncan’s campaign for lieutenant governor in 2018. Duncan, then a Republican, is now a leading Democratic contender for Georgia’s top office.

His most public role in Georgia might be his work helping foster children who are aging out of the system. His interest in the state’s foster care system came from personal experience.

At age 13, Jackson was placed in the state foster care system because of troubles at home. After bouncing around to several foster homes, he landed with a Christian family that offered him a “stable environment to have a chance,” he said in a 2014 interview.

He graduated from high school but didn’t have money for college. Jackson got a job recruiting secretaries for a temp agency that he later bought. He went into the executive search business with his Sunday school teacher and got into the physician recruiting business in 1978. He founded other companies and describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur in health care.”

By 2000, however, Jackson almost went broke. That year he “retooled” with his Jackson Healthcare venture. The privately held Alpharetta company has grown to 800 employees and helps place doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in temporary jobs nationwide. By 2012, the company reported $500 million in revenue.

In his campaign launch, Jackson said he took on Georgia’s “broken political system” to help foster kids.

He also took familiar MAGA stances, saying Trump inspired him to run for office. He promised to embrace the president’s immigration crackdown, fight “woke ideology” and ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“And if we can’t cut the state income tax in half and freeze property taxes, I won’t run again,” he said. “Simple as that.”