Billionaire Rick Jackson sues Burt Jones over ‘unfair’ fundraising advantage

ATLANTA - Republican candidate for governor and billionaire healthcare entrepreneur Rick Jackson filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of Georgia’s "leadership committee" system, marking the latest legal salvo in a primary race increasingly defined by courtroom battles.

The 71-year-old founder of Jackson Healthcare took aim at the 2021 law that allows high-ranking state officials to raise nearly unlimited donations, arguing it creates an unconstitutional "uneven playing field" for the 2026 gubernatorial primary.

Jackson vs. Jones

What they're saying:

The lawsuit, Jackson vs. Jones, names Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, a primary challenger who benefits from the law, alongside state officials responsible for enforcement, including Attorney General Christopher M. Carr and members of the state ethics commission.

Jackson argues that because Jones is the sitting lieutenant governor, he can use a leadership committee to amass and spend millions, while non-incumbents are restricted to traditional contribution limits. Jackson claims the disparity is "antithetical to the First Amendment" and violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s right to equal protection.

The complaint alleges Jones is already using these funds for significant media buys that cannot be "un-rung" later. Jackson is seeking an injunction to stop the WBJ Leadership Committee from spending to benefit Jones’ run, a declaration that the provision is unconstitutional, and an order for the return of received contributions.

Burt Jones responds to ‘silly lawsuit’

The other side:

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, in a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta on Thursday, wrote:

"This silly lawsuit has been unsuccessfully attempted twice already by the other never-Trump candidates in this race and will fail a third time. Not remotely surprising that the grifter crew surrounding Rick Jackson convinced him to waste more of his money." 

Raffensperger vs. Jones

Dig deeper:

This is the second active lawsuit in the race. Late last year, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger filed a similar complaint. Instead of trying to shut down Jones’ committee, Raffensperger asked a judge to allow his own committee to operate with the same privileges. In January, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross denied the request for an immediate waiver of fundraising limits, but the case remains unresolved.

Carr vs. Jones

Dig deeper:

In August 2025, Attorney General Chris Carr filed his own lawsuit against Jones. A judge dismissed that case without prejudice, calling the alleged injuries too "speculative" at that stage of the campaign.

Precedent from Perdue vs. Kemp

Dig deeper:

All three complaints mirror a 2022 effort by former U.S. Sen. David Perdue to challenge Gov. Brian Kemp. In that instance, U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen granted an injunction prohibiting Kemp’s committee from spending funds to advocate for his re-election or the defeat of primary opponents. While the judge blocked future spending, he did not order refunds or make past expenditures unlawful, nor did he stop the committee from raising funds for other officials.

Georgia leadership committee rule explained

The backstory:

This constitutional showdown is attributed to Senate Bill 221, which passed in 2021 and created "leadership committees" that are exempt from the standard $8,400 primary contribution limit.

The rules for these committees include:

• Unlimited Contributions: They can raise unlimited donations from donors and are not subject to traditional caps.
• Session Fundraising: Committees may raise funds during legislative sessions, a period when incumbents are otherwise prohibited from fundraising.
• Direct Coordination: They can coordinate directly with a candidate’s campaign to fund advertising and expenses.
• Limited Access: The ability to chair these committees is limited to the sitting governor, lieutenant governor, party nominees after a primary win, and specific legislative caucuses.
• Usage: Funds can defray "ordinary and necessary" campaign expenses or affect the outcome of any election.
• Structure: A leadership committee is a separate legal entity from a regular campaign committee and must register with the State Ethics Commission within 10 days of accepting or spending more than $500.
• Transitions: If a chairperson leaves office or loses nominee status, they have 60 days to transfer assets to another leadership committee or a non-profit.

The controversy remains centered on the disparity: until a challenger wins a primary, they are bound by statutory limits while incumbents utilize the "unlimited" power of leadership committees.

Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidates

What's next:

Currently, there are seven candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the race for Georgia governor. They are:

Chris Carr: Serving as Georgia’s Attorney General since 2016, Carr has prioritized public safety, recently highlighting the work of his Gang Prosecution Unit. He positions his style as aligned with Governor Brian Kemp and emphasizes his record in fighting gang activity and human trafficking.

Rick Jackson: A billionaire healthcare executive and founder of Jackson Healthcare, Jackson entered the race in early February 2026 as a "conservative outsider". He grew up in foster care and poverty, an experience he uses to frame his platform on affordability, including plans to freeze property taxes and significantly cut income taxes.

Burt Jones: The current Lieutenant Governor of Georgia and an oil executive, Jones is the heir to Jones Petroleum Company. He is a prominent supporter of the MAGA agenda and received an official endorsement from Donald Trump in August 2025.

Brad Raffensperger: Georgia’s Secretary of State since 2019. Raffensperger is a licensed engineer and business owner. He gained national prominence for defending Georgia's 2020 election results and campaigning on a record of modernizing the state's election system while maintaining a conservative fiscal approach.

Clark Dean: A real estate executive from Atlanta, Dean is running as a business-focused candidate.

Ken Yasger: A member of the Georgia Army National Guard, Yasger is also a declared candidate for the Republican nomination.

Leland Olinger II: Listed by the Georgia Republican Party as a declared statewide candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial race.