Rick Jackson brings gubernatorial campaign tour to Macon ahead of early voting
The tour included stops in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus and Savannah, followed by an evening rally in Columbia County.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson stopped in Macon Monday as part of a statewide campaign tour with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, one day before early voting begins in the November general election.
Jackson is running against Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta. Jackson has also received endorsements from President Donald Trump and Kemp.
During the Macon stop, Jackson outlined his priorities for addressing the cost of living, including housing, food prices and health insurance.
Jackson said he wants to reduce housing costs by cutting through what he described as unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape in the approval process.
“On the housing, 25% of our new housing cost right now is based off of bureaucracy and red tape,” Jackson said. “We’re going to streamline that with 21st-century technology and have our counties to approve things because delay is a tax.”
Jackson also discussed the cost of food, pointing to expenses facing farmers and challenges in the state’s agricultural supply chain.
He said he wants to replace closed processing plants, sawmills and storage facilities to help reduce production costs and, ultimately, grocery prices.
On health care, Jackson said he wants to hold insurance companies accountable over claim denials and their role in medical decisions.
Kemp used the Macon stop to express support for Jackson, tying the Republican nominee’s candidacy to the governor’s own economic policies and proposed property tax relief.
“We got property tax relief on the way,” Kemp said. “To me, that’s why we’ve got to make sure Rick Jackson is our governor to continue the same type policies that we’ve been doing to help people fight off 40-year-high inflation that started when Joe Biden was president and Keisha Lance Bottoms was working for him.”
Kemp also criticized the economic conditions under former President Joe Biden, connecting those concerns to Bottoms’ previous work in his administration.
Jackson also criticized Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, arguing that her departure from the position raises questions about her ability to serve as governor.
The statewide tour comes as Georgia voters prepare to begin casting ballots in the November 3 general election.
Early voting begins Tuesday, October 13.
