Georgia Governor Voter Guide: Bottoms and Jackson on Medicaid and Taxes
Two candidates are on the ballot for governor of Georgia on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson. Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, so the seat is open.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the two side by side on Medicaid and taxes. Here is where each one stands, based on the video and reporting from Georgia news outlets.
Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democrat)
Bottoms is a former mayor of Atlanta who later served in the Biden administration. She won the Democratic nomination outright in the May primary and has been endorsed by former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, according to the Georgia Recorder.
On Medicaid, the video says Bottoms calls full Medicaid expansion a day one priority. Medicaid expansion has been a cornerstone of her campaign; at an early voting event she called it "a number one priority," the Georgia Recorder reported. She wants to scrap Georgia Pathways, the state's partial expansion with work requirements, which she has called a "complete disaster." She has noted that Georgia is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, while the 40 that have get 90% federal funding for it.
On taxes, the video says Bottoms would end the income tax for teachers and cut car and home insurance taxes. She has proposed eliminating the state income tax for Georgia educators and targeting taxes on auto and homeowners insurance that she says are passed on to consumers. She would also let local governments suspend the sales tax on groceries. Bottoms has said she favors a targeted approach because broader tax cuts could cost funding for hospitals, public safety and schools. "We want to make sure that our budget can absorb it," she said at the Atlanta Press Club debate.
Rick Jackson (Republican)
Jackson is the founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, an Alpharetta-based health care staffing company. He grew up in foster care and became a billionaire. A political newcomer, he entered the race in February and beat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a June runoff; President Donald Trump and Kemp now back him, according to the Georgia Recorder.
On Medicaid, the video says Jackson's "intelligent" Medicaid expansion would keep $4.5 billion in federal funds. At the Atlanta News First debate, Jackson said he would expand Medicaid without losing "$4.5 billion dollars that we're currently getting for the state," The Current GA reported; the outlet noted he did not explain how Georgia would lose that money. Under his plan, people between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty line would keep access to federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. He has also pledged to crack down on insurance practices that deny or delay care and to negotiate lower prescription prices.
On taxes, the video says Jackson pledges to cut the state income tax in half in his first term. He has promised to cut it in half over four years or not seek reelection, the Georgia Recorder reported. He is also campaigning to curb property tax increases and to suspend the state gas tax automatically when prices spike. "I'll cut income and property taxes, eliminate the gas tax when prices spike and save you money on your utility bills," he said at a campaign stop.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Keisha Lance Bottoms: @KeishaBottoms on X and @keishaforga on TikTok. Rick Jackson: @RickJacksonGA on X and @rickjacksonga on TikTok.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Georgia Recorder, Voter Guide, Georgia Governor: https://georgiarecorder.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-governor/ ; The Current GA, "Bottoms, Jackson debate healthcare, data centers in sole scheduled forum" (Oct. 7, 2026): https://thecurrentga.org/2026/10/07/bottoms-jackson-debate-healthcare-data-centers-in-sole-scheduled-forum/ ; Ballotpedia, Georgia gubernatorial election, 2026: https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_gubernatorial_election,_2026 ; Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign: https://www.keishaforgovernor.com/ ; Rick Jackson campaign: https://rickjackson.com/
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