Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wealthy MAGA Republican Primary Candidates “Slugging it Out” in Georgia

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wealthy MAGA Republican Primary Candidates “Slugging it Out” in Georgia

Burt Jones and Rick Jackson’s undying support for Trump’s MAGA agenda puts them far out of step with Georgia voters 

New reporting from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlights how megarich MAGA candidates Burt Jones and Rick Jackson’s attacks on each other are getting “nastier” as their race to the right intensifies. Jackson’s ads are blanketing Georgia airwaves as he doubles down on his promise to be “Trump’s favorite governor,” clearly rattling Trump-endorsed Jones as he continues to pour tens of millions of his own dollars into his race.

Both candidates continue to prove how out of step they are with Georgia voters. Last week, Jackson announced he opposes Medicaid expansion and supports Georgia’s extreme abortion ban — a position shared by his three GOP opponents. Georgia also saw the highest number of layoff announcements in the country last month yet the entire GOP field has embraced Trump’s cost-raising tariffs that are hurting businesses, workers, and farmers. Jones even proudly stood with Trump at a rally in Rome last week as he dismissed Georgia voters’ concerns about affordability.

Check out more from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting here or read more below:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Rick Jackson, Burt Jones trade attacks as GOP race for governor intensifies

KEY EXCERPTS:

• The Republican race for governor is getting nastier. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire Rick Jackson are increasingly slugging it out like it’s a two-man contest.

• Since Jackson entered the contest — and began courting the MAGA base with an uncompromising embrace of President Donald Trump’s agenda — Jones has shifted almost all of his fire in that direction.
• Jackson’s ads, paid for by his personal fortune, are everywhere. So is his message: he’s the outsider who’ll be Trump’s favorite governor.

• Jones doesn’t want that narrative to settle. He’s launched a media counteroffensive, also largely funded by his personal wealth, to remind voters he secured Trump’s endorsement months ago.

• Allies are pushing legislation that would bar candidates for governor from running if they have a financial interest in state contracts — a not-so-subtle swipe at Jackson, whose health care companies have done more than $900 million in business with the state. And Jones’ social media feed suggests an even sharper edge is coming.
• Jackson is fighting back. He scored a major legal victory last week when he convinced a federal judge to order a leadership committee controlled by Jones to stop spending money on his campaign, potentially neutralizing what had been a fundraising advantage.

Read the entire piece at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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