Rick Jackson

Rick Jackson grew up in Georgia's foster care system, moving through five foster homes and thirteen schools, and lived for a time in the Techwood Homes public housing project in Atlanta. His campaign says he could not afford to stay in college, took a straight-commission sales job and later bought the company he worked for. He founded Jackson Healthcare, a health care business; his campaign says his companies operate in all 50 states and generate more than 3 billion dollars in annual revenue. He had not held elected office before the 2026 race. In the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for Governor of Georgia he finished second to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who had just over 38 percent to Jackson's more than 32 percent, sending the race to a runoff. Jackson won the June 16, 2026 runoff, having put more than 100 million dollars of his own money into the campaign. He faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, on November 3, 2026.