Rick Jackson Skips Trump Macon Rally: Georgia Governor Race
Rick Jackson, the Republican running for governor in Georgia, will skip President Donald Trump’s Macon rally this weekend, setting up a notable absence at one of the president’s final-week midterm stops.
Jackson’s campaign told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he would instead “be serving as a force multiplier and rallying Republicans in Cherokee County to turnout” on Saturday, opting for local organizing over appearing on stage with the president.
A Shifting Relationship With Trump
The decision marks a shift for Jackson, who has appeared alongside Trump at multiple rallies this year. During the Republican primary, Jackson frequently invoked the president and compared their business backgrounds, at one point vowing to become Trump’s “favorite governor.”
Trump endorsed Jackson only after the businessman defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican gubernatorial runoff. Jones had been the president’s original pick, and Trump cited Jones’ loyalty when backing him in that race.
In recent weeks, Jackson has talked about Trump less and drawn more comparisons with Gov. Brian Kemp, the popular two-term Republican who is term-limited. “I will stand up to anybody, just like Brian Kemp has done,” Jackson said during an Oct. 8 debate with Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, describing Kemp as a model for balancing cooperation with political independence.
Georgia in the Midterm Spotlight
Trump’s Macon rally is part of his seven-state midterm sprint aimed at shoring up Republican candidates in competitive races. Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins will attend the Macon rally, his campaign confirmed.
The news comes as a new Georgia poll puts Trump’s approval rating in the state at just 42 percent, with disapproval at 55 percent — in a state he carried in 2024. Georgia remains one of the cycle’s most closely watched battlegrounds, with both parties pouring resources into the governor’s race and a marquee Senate contest.
Source: Washington Examiner