Billionaire Rick Jackson shakes up Georgia's governor race with a play for the MAGA base

[IsailedawayfromFR]

What say you @Hoodat ?  Is he any good and does he have a chance?

Billionaire Rick Jackson shakes up Georgia's governor race with a play for the MAGA base
Jackson has vastly outspent his GOP primary opponents on the airwaves, including Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, since his surprise campaign launch last month.

It’s been a month since billionaire Rick Jackson unexpectedly entered the Republican primary for governor in Georgia.
He’s quickly shaken things up.

Jackson, a health care executive, is pumping millions of dollars of his own money into an already crowded race and aggressively courting supporters of Donald Trump — even though the president has backed a different candidate.

Prior to Jackson’s late entrance, the May 19 primary had seemed to be shaping up as a three-way race among Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is the Trump-endorsed front-runner, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state Attorney General Chris Carr.

But after launching his campaign in early February with a pledge to spend at least $50 million, Jackson has vastly outspent his opponents on the airwaves and has rapidly seen dividends in some early public polling. He’s even leading in some of them, though most of those surveys also show a plurality of voters undecided.

It’s all scrambled the contest to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in the battleground state into a slugfest for MAGA voters as Jackson attempts to paint himself in the mold of Trump against a field of better-known rivals and maintain his early jolt of momentum.

President Donald Trump has endorsed Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for governor.
“You can’t get into the race promising to spend $50 million and not see a significant impact, which is exactly what has happened,” said Katie Frost, an Atlanta-based Republican political strategist not currently working with any of the campaigns. “This effort means he thought there was an opening.”

Another X-factor in the race is that the primary would head to a runoff between the top two vote-getters if no one gets 50% of the vote — an outcome that is likelier now that it’s a four-way race.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/billionaire-rick-jackson-georgia-governor-race-maga-base-rcna261940

[Hoodat]

What say you @Hoodat ?  Is he any good and does he have a chance?

Don't know.  I don't live in Georgia anymore.  Maybe @jafo2010 can answer.

We're dealing with our own version here in Alabama.  We have a solid Conservative with a proven track record of fighting liberal BS (Steve Marshall) running for the Senate to replace Governor-elect Tuberville.  But that's not who Trump is backing.

[jafo2010]

Sadly, President Trump has a propensity to bet on losers when it comes to other politicians in Georgia.  To refresh your memory, Trump endorsed Herschel Walker for Senator in 2022.  Herschel lived in Texas yet ran for senator in Georgia.  A totally unwelcome move.  Why is it people running for office do not comprehend that the majority of people want someone residing in the territory they live in also.  Utterly stupid on Trump's part to endorse him.  I knew he did not stand a chance.  Trump talks about winning all the time, but Walker was a guaranteed loss!

Most of my firends are conservative here in Georgia, and they are all voting for Jackson.  So, I would say the polls showing him with a lead are probably accurate.  No question, he is spending more money than all the other candidates combined.  I get a mailer from him about every 3 days.

I would say we have a genuine chance of defeating Sen John Ossoff, Dem incumbent, BUT, I see no visibility of the Republican candidate whatsoever.  Literally must have a next to nothing budget to run for US Senate.  The seat here would be an easy pickup for the Republican candidate, but with no visibility, his chances might be a long shot.  Republicans are dropping the ball on the Senate race here.  Perhaps they are waiting until after the primary to invest in his campaign.  I do not even remember the guy's name, for I believe he is somewhat a no name, if I am not mistaken.

Again, Donald Trump threw a monkeywrench in the senatorial elections in Georgia that got TWO DEMOCRATS ELECTED IN THE SAME YEAR(I believe it was 2020)!  His actions were abominable and utterly stupid.  Once again, he is backing the wrong guy in Georgia for governor.  And to refresh everyone's memory, Trump backed Brian Kemp for governor, only to have Kemp spit in his face.

I attended a rally for Kemp in Macon, GA, where Trump flew in and landed Air Force One, and it was utterly an electric day.  There were reportedly over 70,000 people there to see TRUMP that day.  Kemp was sort of a sideshow, and only got elected because Trump backed him.  It will not be that way again with Burt Jones.

I have nothing but contempt for Raffensberger.  His animous toward Trump makes him every bit the rat that Pence was/is.  And Lt. Governor Burt Jones has so many negative ads running against him here, I do not see him winning either.  And the AG Chris Carr, I never heard his name mentioned, so with zero name recognition, he is certain to come in a distant 4th.

I say Jackson will be the Republican candidate in November.