Rick Jackson is Georgia Republicans’ best hope. Donald Trump may get in the way.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, described proposed anti-riot legislation as "silly" and "asinine" during a 2022 interview with The Atlantic. The comments surfaced recently amid heightened scrutiny of her past statements as she campaigns against Republican challenger Rick Jackson. Bottoms made the remarks shortly after announcing in the summer of 2021 that she would not seek reelection to the mayor's office. At the time, Georgia legislators were attempting to pass a bill intended to increase criminal penalties for individuals participating in riots who obstructed roadways or caused disorder. Although that specific measure failed to pass, a similar piece of legislation became law in 2026. Other jurisdictions, including Florida, have enacted comparable statutes designed to deter unlawful conduct during civil unrest. During the interview, Bottoms responded to questions regarding proposals to stiffen penalties for public protests that turned unruly or violent. She argued that such laws detracted from essential conversations about the root causes of street demonstrations. Bottoms pointed to Georgia's open-carry laws, noting that protesters could legally walk down streets carrying assault rifles without facing legal repercussions. She stated that this reality frightened her more than large groups of students engaging in peaceful protest. Reflecting on the summer of 2020, she cited a national crisis that demanded genuine dialogue and systemic reform. Bottoms emphasized the importance of voter participation beyond presidential elections, urging citizens to engage with state senators and local representatives. She warned that failing to do so resulted in officials enacting laws disconnected from current societal realities. The controversy over Bottoms' comments arrives as the gubernatorial race intensifies. RealClearPolling indicates that Jackson holds a narrow lead over Bottoms by an average of 1.6 percentage points. Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive and political newcomer, has invested nearly $200 million in his campaign since entering the race earlier this year. His substantial financial resources have bolstered Republican hopes for retaining state leadership positions, even as the party faces challenges in other key contests. Georgia Republicans view Jackson as their primary hope to avoid a sweep in November, though concerns persist regarding the influence of President Donald Trump on the electorate. Republican strategists expressed mixed views on Trump's impact on the race. Jason Shepherd, a former Cobb County chair supporting Jackson, questioned whether Trump's presence helped Republicans more than it energized Democrats in a potential wave election year. An anonymous Georgia-based Republican strategist noted that undecided voters in the governor's race held strongly negative opinions of the president, making it difficult to justify his involvement as beneficial. Despite these internal debates, Jackson has maintained a careful distance from the president in his advertising. An analysis by tracking firm AdImpact revealed that Jackson did not mention Trump in any of his nearly 150 general election advertisements. In the sole televised debate held on October 6, Jackson avoided referencing the president entirely, even as Bottoms invoked Trump's name eight times. Instead, Jackson highlighted the record of outgoing Governor Brian Kemp, mentioning him five times and focusing on Bottoms' management of the city during the pandemic. Cole Muzio, president of the conservative Frontline Policy Action group, asserted that focusing on Georgia-specific issues and the conservative roadmap established by Kemp yields electoral victories, whereas focusing on Washington politics leads to losses. The Jackson campaign declined to comment on the strategy. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle defended the president as the party's top motivator, while RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre stated that the party remained focused on preventing Democratic control of state institutions.