--- title: "Bottoms vs. Jackson: 2026 Georgia governor’s race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-ga" updated: "2026-10-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Georgia governor’s race: Keisha Bottoms (D) vs. Rick Jackson (R) Rating: Toss-up · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 1, 2026 The 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election features Democratic nominee Keisha Bottoms, former Mayor of Atlanta and senior advisor to President Joe Biden, against Republican nominee Rick Jackson, a healthcare executive and self-described conservative outsider. The contest hinges on healthcare policy, state tax cuts, cost-of-living relief, public education funding, and public safety priorities. ## Candidates - **Keisha Bottoms** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Keisha_Lance_Bottoms) - **Rick Jackson** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://rickjackson.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ## Issues ### Healthcare Salience: high Bottoms advocates expanding Medicaid to cover 300,000 Georgians and replacing the Pathways program, while Jackson relies on his background as a healthcare executive to push technology-driven cost reductions and pharmacy rate negotiations without expanding government programs. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports Medicaid expansion and lower costs Bottoms proposes expanding Medicaid to provide coverage to 300,000 Georgians, replacing the Georgia Pathways program with full coverage. Her CARE Plan includes expanding rural EMS and telehealth, creating the Georgia Rx Savings Board to reduce prescription drug prices, and strengthening state mental health infrastructure. - Expand Medicaid to cover 300,000 uninsured Georgians - End the Georgia Pathways program and replace it with comprehensive coverage - Launch the Rural Care First Initiative to expand EMS, mobile health, telehealth, and labor and delivery access - Establish the Georgia Rx Savings Board to lower prescription drug costs > “It’s the difference between life and death for so many people — when you can’t get to a hospital, when you can access medical care, when you can’t see a doctor when you’re in need.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Keisha_Lance_Bottoms) > “will lower health care costs for everyone by expanding Medicaid, ending the failed Georgia Pathways program, and replacing it with real coverage that actually works for families.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Keisha_Lance_Bottoms) **Rick Jackson:** Opposes Medicaid expansion and favors market reforms Jackson draws on his experience as founder of Jackson Healthcare to advocate for market-based healthcare reforms rather than expanding government programs. He proposes leveraging technology and AI, eliminating cost-driving middlemen, expanding rural care access, and negotiating lower pharmacy rates. - Use technology and AI to cut out middlemen and reduce overall healthcare costs - Expand access to high-quality healthcare in rural Georgia communities - Negotiate better pharmacy rates for state residents - Make Georgia a national model for accessible and affordable healthcare without expanding government dependency > “I’m the only candidate in this race who actually understands healthcare costs. I‘ve spent my life in it — I know where the costs are, I know where the wastes are, I know how the system works, and I know how it fails families.” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Cost of Living and Taxes Salience: high Jackson pledges an immediate property tax freeze and cutting the state income tax in half, whereas Bottoms proposes targeted tax relief by eliminating income taxes for teachers and giving local governments authority to suspend grocery sales taxes. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports targeted tax relief and local sales tax flexibility Bottoms focuses on targeted tax cuts to ease cost-of-living pressures for working families and specific professions. She proposes granting municipal leaders authority to eliminate or suspend local sales taxes on groceries, diapers, and baby formula during price spikes, alongside eliminating state income tax for teachers. - Authorize local governments to eliminate or temporarily suspend local sales taxes on groceries and essential items - Eliminate state income tax for public school teachers - Restructure the Department of Economic Development to create an Office of Small Business dedicated to firms with 0 to 25 employees - Expand loan and grant access for small businesses > “Keisha will lower the cost of groceries by giving local leaders the power to eliminate or suspend local sales taxes on groceries and essentials, providing financial relief for families in times of need.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports state income tax cuts and property tax freezes Jackson proposes broad tax reduction policies to make Georgia affordable. He pledges an immediate freeze on property tax assessments, cutting the state income tax in half within four years with an ultimate goal of full elimination in eight years, and tying government assistance for able-bodied adults to work requirements. - Freeze property taxes immediately to prevent rising home assessments - Cut the state income tax in half within 4 years and work to eliminate it within 8 years - Pledge to not seek re-election if unable to cut state income tax in half and freeze property taxes - Tie public assistance programs to work or job training for able-bodied adults > “make Georgia the most affordable state in America by freezing property taxes, cutting the state income tax, eliminating wasteful spending, and raising standards in government and education.” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) > “if we can’t cut the state income tax in half and freeze property taxes, I won’t run again.” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Education Salience: high Bottoms focuses on modernizing school funding formulas, expanding Pre-K, and providing free technical college, whereas Jackson emphasizes freezing college tuition, banning DEI programs in classrooms, and restricting transgender student participation in sports and restrooms. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports public school funding modernization and free higher education Bottoms advocates fully funding K-12 public education by modernizing Georgia's funding formula, establishing universal Pre-K and childcare, and eliminating income taxes for teachers. She also proposes tuition-free community and technical college for high school graduates and job seekers. - Modernize Georgia's school funding formula and fully fund public schools - Guarantee Universal Pre-K and expand universal childcare access - Eliminate state income tax for teachers to recruit and retain staff - Establish tuition-free access to technical and community colleges > “Keisha will fully fund Georgia’s schools and modernize the state’s outdated education funding formula so it reflects the needs of students today, not decades ago.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports parental rights, tuition freezes, and banning DEI Jackson proposes freezing tuition, room, and board at public colleges and technical schools while raising teacher pay and promoting childhood literacy. He supports matching $1,000 Trump Accounts for every child, prohibiting DEI programs and ideological activism in classrooms, and enforcing restrictions on transgender students in sports and restrooms. - Freeze tuition, room, and board at public universities and technical schools - Raise teacher pay and prioritize childhood literacy - Prohibit DEI programs and ideological indoctrination in public universities and classrooms - Ensure biological males do not compete in girls' sports or use girls' restrooms and locker rooms - Support foster youth by matching Trump Accounts contributions and funding tuition-free public college under the Fostering Success Act > “Schools exist to educate — not indoctrinate.” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) > “Prohibit DEI programs in state government, public universities, and classrooms” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Public Safety and Law Enforcement Salience: medium Bottoms combines state law enforcement support with gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws, while Jackson prioritizes ending revolving-door justice and launching public campaigns to respect police. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports police funding alongside gun safety measures Bottoms outlines a dual public safety approach combining law enforcement resources with violence prevention and gun safety reform. She supports expanding Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) forensic resources for local law enforcement, passing universal background checks and red flag laws, and establishing the Prison to Work reentry initiative. - Expand GBI capacity, forensic resources, and investigative assistance for local police departments - Enact universal background checks and a red flag law for firearm purchases - Expand diversion programs for nonviolent offenses and strengthen reentry through the Prison to Work initiative - Highlight mayoral record of raising police force targets and enacting mandatory officer de-escalation orders > “Keisha’s public safety agenda is rooted in the belief that safer communities require both enforcement and prevention.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports law enforcement and ending revolving-door justice Jackson advocates full backing for law enforcement with increased training, funding, and public respect initiatives. He opposes soft-on-crime policies, pledges to ban revolving-door bail policies, and proposes launching school public service announcements promoting respect for police officers. - Provide full funding, resources, and training for law enforcement agencies - Ban revolving-door justice and reject soft-on-crime policies - Launch a statewide campaign and school public service announcements promoting respect for law enforcement - Combat the mental health crisis within the criminal justice system > “Fully support law enforcement with resources, training, and respect” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Jackson pledges to make Georgia number one in deporting criminal illegal immigrants in coordination with Donald Trump, whereas Bottoms previously ended Atlanta's cooperation with ICE detainment over federal family separation policies. **Keisha Bottoms:** Ended municipal ICE detainee cooperation as mayor As Mayor of Atlanta in 2018, Bottoms issued an executive order directing the city jail to cease accepting ICE detainees. She stated that cooperating with federal immigration enforcement made the city complicit in family separations at the southern border. - Signed a 2018 executive order instructing Atlanta Department of Corrections to stop holding ICE detainees - Opposed federal family separation policies at the U.S. southern border > “it is untenable for our City to be complicit in the inhumane immigration policies that have led to the separation of hundreds of families at the United States southern border.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Keisha_Lance_Bottoms) **Rick Jackson:** Supports aggressive deportation of criminal illegal immigrants Jackson pledges to partner with President Donald Trump to strictly enforce immigration laws and make Georgia the top state for deporting criminal illegal immigrants. - Make Georgia the leading state in deporting criminal illegal immigrants - Partner with President Donald Trump to implement federal immigration enforcement policies - Eliminate state policies that reduce cooperation with immigration authorities > “Make Georgia number one in the nation for deporting criminal illegal immigrants” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Governance, Voting Rights, and Ethics Salience: medium Bottoms prioritizes expanding early voting access and reining in the State Election Board, while Jackson focuses on imposing term limits, auditing government programs, and enforcing strict ethics laws. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports expanding voting access and ethics reform Bottoms advocates for expanding voting opportunities, protecting election workers from political interference, reining in the State Election Board, making Election Day a state holiday, and advancing her Taxpayers First Ethics Plan. - Rein in the State Election Board and protect local election workers from interference - Expand early voting access, protect absentee voting, and establish Election Day as a state holiday - Implement a Taxpayers First Ethics Plan and a Democracy First Agenda > “She will push back on laws and actions that make voting harder, protect local election officials from political interference, rein in the out-of-control State Election Board, and support policies that expand early voting, protect absentee voting, and make Election Day a state holiday.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports term limits, ethics laws, and program audits Jackson emphasizes state government reform by enacting mandatory term limits for elected officials, auditing every state agency for efficiency, passing strict ethics legislation, and legally challenging leadership committee campaign finance rules. - Enact mandatory term limits for state politicians - Audit all government programs and eliminate those deemed ineffective - Pass comprehensive state ethics legislation - Filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia's 2021 campaign finance law regarding leadership committee donation exemptions > “Audit every government program for results and effectiveness” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) ### Agriculture Salience: medium Bottoms emphasizes land retention for family farms and tariff mitigation, whereas Jackson focuses on increasing capital access, negotiating equipment costs, and promoting Georgia Grown products. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports family farm retention and tariff relief Bottoms proposes helping farm families keep their land, expanding training in sustainable agriculture and forestry, supporting agricultural cooperatives, and providing relief for producers affected by trade disruptions and federal tariffs. - Support initiatives to keep agricultural land in family hands - Expand training programs in sustainable agriculture and forestry - Promote cooperative farming models to pool marketing resources - Assist Georgia farmers impacted by federal tariffs and international trade disruptions > “Keisha’s agenda for farmers is about keeping land in family hands, expanding opportunity, and protecting producers from economic shocks beyond their control.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports affordable capital access and equipment cost reduction Jackson focuses on reducing farm input costs and providing affordable capital. He advocates helping farmers negotiate lower prices for materials and machinery while expanding national marketing for Georgia Grown products. - Provide cost-effective, efficient capital options for agricultural producers - Assist farmers in negotiating reduced prices for essential input materials and equipment - Promote Georgia Grown agricultural products to expand market competitiveness > “Provide efficient, cost-effective capital options for farmers” > — Rick Jackson, via [Campaign site](https://rickjackson.com/) ### Veterans and Military Families Salience: medium Bottoms focuses on converting military skills into civilian credentials and offering retiree tax relief, while Jackson proposes waiving licensing fees, establishing a Governor's Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, and creating a 24/7 support hotline. **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports military skill translation and veteran tax relief Bottoms proposes expanding skill translation so military training fulfills civilian licensing requirements, fast-tracking veteran hiring in state government, providing targeted tax relief for military retirees, and expanding childcare and housing support. - Translate military skills into civilian professional credentials and licenses - Fast-track veteran hiring for state government and high-demand industry roles - Enact targeted tax relief for veterans and military retirees - Strengthen support systems for military family childcare, mental health, and spouse employment > “Keisha wants to make Georgia the best state in the country for veterans and military families.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** Supports waiving professional licensing fees and establishing a Veterans Office Jackson proposes waiving professional licensing fees for veterans and military spouses, creating a dedicated Governor's Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, launching a 24/7 support hotline, and expanding veteran healthcare access. - Waive professional licensing fees for military veterans and trailing spouses - Establish a dedicated Governor's Office of Military and Veterans Affairs - Create a 24/7 Veterans Support Hotline - Improve local healthcare delivery options for military veterans > “Remove barriers to work by waiving professional licensing fees for military families and veterans” > — Rick Jackson, via [Campaign site](https://rickjackson.com/) ### Housing Salience: low **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports fast-track permitting and an affordable housing trust fund Bottoms proposes the Georgia Housing Fast Track initiative to accelerate permitting, cracking down on corporate home purchases, expanding renter and down-payment assistance, and creating a state affordable housing trust fund. - Launch Georgia Housing Fast Track to accelerate permitting and development coordination - Crack down on corporate landlords purchasing single-family homes - Expand state down payment assistance and renter relief - Create an affordable housing trust fund to expand workforce housing > “crack down on corporate landlords that are buying up houses and making it harder for families to buy a home or afford rent” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Keisha_Lance_Bottoms) **Rick Jackson:** No documented position in our sources ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: low **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports restoring abortion rights and maternal health funding Bottoms pledges to protect reproductive freedom and restore a woman's right to choose across Georgia, while increasing state investments in maternal healthcare. - Fight to restore legal abortion access in Georgia - Protect reproductive health freedom and increase investments in maternal healthcare > “Keisha will stand up for Georgians’ rights and freedoms by fighting to restore a woman’s right to choose.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** No documented position in our sources ### Environment and Energy Policy Salience: low **Keisha Bottoms:** Supports flood mitigation and reassessing data center expansion Bottoms proposes state investments in flood mitigation, brownfield cleanup, and water infrastructure. She advocates reassessing the expansion of data centers to protect local power grids, water supplies, and ratepayer utility bills. - Invest in state flood mitigation, brownfield redevelopment, and water infrastructure - Reassess data center expansion to prevent increased utility bills and water resource strain - Protect vulnerable communities from environmental degradation > “Georgia needs to slow down and reassess the rapid expansion of data centers so families are not left with higher utility bills, strained water resources, and damage to surrounding communities.” > — Keisha Bottoms, via [Campaign site](https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/) **Rick Jackson:** No documented position in our sources ### DEI Programs and Social Issues Salience: low **Keisha Bottoms:** No documented position in our sources **Rick Jackson:** Opposes DEI programs and supports sports/restroom restrictions Jackson proposes prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across state government, public universities, and K-12 classrooms. He also supports restricting participation in girls' sports, restrooms, and locker rooms to biological females. - Prohibit DEI programs in state agencies, higher education, and K-12 schools - Ensure state taxpayer funds do not support political activism - Enforce restrictions keeping biological males out of girls' sports, restrooms, and locker rooms > “Prohibit DEI programs in state government, public universities, and classrooms” > — Rick Jackson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rick_Jackson_%28Georgia%29) [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-ga)