Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is criticizing rival Rick Jackson’s campaign spending as the billionaire breaks state records in the final stretch of a tight runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Jones’ campaign has released a new ad targeting Jackson’s spending, saying “Rick Jackson is everywhere – spending over $100 million trying to buy our vote,” and “Georgia is not for sale.”
Campaign Spending Records Broken
Jackson, a former healthcare executive, has leveraged his personal fortune to fund his campaign, dropping tens of millions of dollars on ads and mailers to place himself in front of voters. According to the tracking firm AdImpact, Jackson has given his campaign more than $100 million and ranked as the second-biggest advertiser of the 2026 election cycle, breaking Georgia gubernatorial campaign records while spending $90 million on advertising.
Jones, a multimillionaire whose family found success in the petroleum industry, has also contributed to spiraling totals, loaning his campaign $25 million and spending more than $35 million on advertising. The state official has leaned heavily on President Donald Trump’s endorsement, holding a tele-rally with the president this week.
Uncertainty Over Jackson’s Chances
It remains unclear whether Jackson can convince Georgia’s Republican voters to back him against Jones, President Trump’s chosen candidate in the race. Jackson has tried to leverage his money, donating $1 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. a little over a month before he launched his governor campaign, despite the president already endorsing Jones last year.
History has not been kind to wealthy, self-funding candidates in Georgia, with former Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s high-profile runoff loss in 2021 and multimillionaire businessman Guy Millner’s losses in the 1990s serving as examples. However, Jackson’s ability to continue funding his campaign is a wild card, and after initially committing $50 million to the election, he has since revised estimates upward.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
