ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A wide fundraising gap is reshaping Georgia’s race for governor, with Republican Rick Jackson using his financial advantage to run television ads while Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms focuses on direct outreach and digital organizing.
Bottoms spent Labor Day rallying working families in Atlanta, where she promised to expand Medicaid and address rising grocery costs. Supporters at the event were encouraged to record and post endorsement videos on social media.
“In this age of disinformation and misinformation, our trusted voices are coming from our communities,” Bottoms said.
State campaign finance disclosures show Bottoms has raised nearly $6 million, while Jackson has raised more than $118 million.
The disparity has been evident on local television, where many ads featuring Bottoms have been negative spots funded by Jackson’s campaign.
One ad, titled “Never Again,” criticized Bottoms’ record as Atlanta mayor, describing her administration as “a short tenure, but one filled with challenges and pitfalls.”
Jackson’s campaign has also aired ads highlighting his biography, including spots featuring foster care youth who thank him for helping them attend college.
Bottoms criticized the spending during her Atlanta campaign stop.
“Rick Jackson’s trying to buy this campaign,” she said.
Political analyst Ben Taylor said the large spending gap is about more than television airtime. He said both campaigns are attempting to shape voters’ perceptions of their opponent before people disengage from political messaging.
“Both candidates are trying to define the other one,” Taylor said. “The question becomes: who is better at that? Who do voters buy more of that from? And can the candidates successfully define themselves in ways that allow the voters to reject the opposition’s framing?”
Taylor said many undecided voters dislike political infighting and may tune out traditional television advertising, placing greater importance on campaigns’ ability to communicate directly with voters.
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.