Georgia’s 2026 governor’s race is entering the general-election stretch with a large difference in the candidates’ reported fundraising totals, though the headline gap requires context because much of Republican Rick Jackson’s total came from his own money during the primary.
Campaign-finance data compiled by TransparencyUSA lists Jackson at about $118.98 million in total contributions and Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms at about $5.77 million. Capitol Beat reported that Jackson had raised or provided more than $118 million to his campaign through the July 31 reporting period, while Bottoms had raised $5.7 million since launching her campaign.
Self-financing drives much of the difference
Jackson spent more than $100 million of his own money during the Republican primary. In the reporting period covering the early general-election phase, Capitol Beat reported that Jackson raised $6.1 million and Bottoms raised $3.1 million, meaning the all-cycle totals and current donor activity tell different parts of the story.
At the end of July, Jackson’s campaign reported about $4.3 million in cash on hand. Bottoms reported just over $770,000.
How the campaigns are using their resources
Atlanta News First reported that Georgia voters are seeing an unusually expensive advertising push, with campaigns using television and digital ads alongside direct voter outreach. The spending totals can affect how broadly and frequently each campaign communicates, but they do not determine the election result.
The figures are snapshots tied to filed reports and can change with later disclosures. Voters will choose between Jackson and Bottoms in the November 3 general election.
Sources: TransparencyUSA campaign data, Capitol Beat, August 11, 2026 and Atlanta News First, September 7, 2026. Featured image: Atlanta News First photo.
