Business Leader Enters Georgia Governor’s Race Amid Lobbying Controversy
Billionaire Rick Jackson, known for his role as founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, is making waves in the Georgia governor’s race. Despite presenting himself as a political newcomer, Jackson has a background involving extensive work with D.C. lobbyists.
Based in Alpharetta, GA, Jackson Healthcare is a prominent health care staffing company and manufacturer. Jackson launched his gubernatorial campaign in February and secured the Republican nomination by June, emphasizing his business acumen as a key qualification for leadership.
Jackson has repeatedly highlighted his independence from legislative influence, asserting on the Shelley Wynter Show in February, “I never asked any legislator for one dime or one benefit for our company.” He echoed these sentiments to the Republican Jewish Commission in March.
However, records from the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission reveal a history of lobbying efforts by Jackson Healthcare. Since 2015, the company has engaged at least seven lobbyists to advocate for its interests at various government levels.
Among these lobbyists, Blake Fulenwider, a former deputy commissioner at Georgia’s Department of Community Health (DCH), represented Jackson Healthcare in 2022. During his tenure, a subsidiary of the company, Healthcare Workforce Logistics, saw its contract with DCH renewed, initially awarded through a no-bid process in 2020.
On the federal level, Jackson Healthcare and its subsidiaries have invested nearly $2 million in lobbying efforts from 2014 to 2026, targeting the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the White House.
USAntibotics, a subsidiary focused on generic drug manufacturing, faced critical financial challenges in 2025, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The company lobbied extensively, spending $360,000 on efforts directed at the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In June 2026, HHS awarded USAntibotics a $30 million contract for producing amoxicillin trihydrate.
Additionally, Avant Health Professionals, another Jackson Healthcare subsidiary, spent $360,000 on lobbying between 2020 and 2022. Their focus included COVID-19 relief funding legislation, which could potentially provide access to public funds.
Jackson’s business dealings have previously faced scrutiny. The Daily Beast reported that Jackson Healthcare spent millions settling allegations related to unpaid wages and exploitation of foreign-born nurses.
In the upcoming election, Jackson faces Democratic opponent Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta Mayor. According to an InsiderAdvantage poll from August, the race is currently even.
The post Rick Jackson’s lobbying record complicates outsider image appeared first on American Journal News.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
