# 2026 Primary: Governor — Criminal Justice Positions > ← Back to Election Guide Governor's Race · May 19, 2026 Governor of Georgia The governor appoints all five members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, oversees the $1.8 billion GDC budget, a… **Published**: 2026-03-14 **Source**: https://gps.press/2026-primary-governor/ **Author**: Admin --- [← Back to Election Guide](/2026-primary-election/) Governor's Race · May 19, 2026 # Governor of Georgia The governor appoints all five members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, oversees the $1.8 billion GDC budget, and sets the tone for criminal justice policy. 16 candidates are running. Republican Primary — 8 Candidates ### Burt Jones Lieutenant Governor · Trump-endorsed frontrunner Punitive Record #### Legislative Record - SB 44 (2023): Gang mandatory minimum sentences - SB 63 (2024): Expanded cash bail requirements - Fentanyl mandatory minimum increases - SB 185 (2025): Transgender prisoner healthcare ban #### Campaign - 60+ sheriff endorsements, Trump endorsed August 2025 NO POSITIONS on prison conditions, parole reform, GDC oversight, rehabilitation, staffing, or the DOJ findings. ### Rick Jackson Healthcare Executive, Jackson Healthcare founder · Late entry February 2026 No CJ Positions #### Background - Founder of Jackson Healthcare ($3B+ revenue), nation's largest healthcare staffing company - Self-funding with $50M+ campaign war chest - Foster care background, championed foster youth college tuition - Platform: tax cuts, DEI elimination, immigration enforcement, pro-law enforcement - Currently near-tied with Jones in polls NO POSITIONS on prison conditions, prison healthcare, reform, parole, or GDC oversight — despite running a $3B+ healthcare company. ### Chris Carr Attorney General Punitive Record #### Record as AG - Created Gang Prosecution Unit (120+ convictions) - Created Human Trafficking Unit (60+ convictions) - Supports mandatory minimum expansion — goal: "toughest state in the nation on crime" - 53 sheriff endorsements - Vowed to fight SB 185 transgender care lawsuit "to the Supreme Court" NO POSITIONS on prison conditions, parole reform, or GDC oversight. Would fight the DOJ rather than negotiate on prison conditions. ### Brad Raffensperger Secretary of State No CJ Positions #### Record - Known for election integrity stance in 2020 - Only parole-adjacent action: professional licensing reform for parolees NO POSITIONS on prison conditions, parole, GDC oversight, or the DOJ findings. ### Jake Olinger Grassroots candidate · First-time office seeker Most Detailed Reform Platform #### Prison Reform Positions - **Parole:** Appoint Board members to increase grant rates, including formerly incarcerated members; require written denial explanations; automatic review for old-law sentences - **Conditions:** Create Independent Oversight Office; mandatory quarterly public reports; unannounced inspections - **Sentencing:** Modify or repeal Truth in Sentencing; reduce mandatory minimums; expand earned time credits; reclassify low-level felonies - **Economic:** Cap commissary prices; establish minimum wage for prison workers - Opposed $600M in new corrections spending: "Georgia has a failed policy problem" #### Note - No elected office experience ### Other Republican Candidates No CJ Positions #### Clark Dean No documented criminal justice positions #### Gregg Kirkpatrick No documented criminal justice positions #### Thomas Williams No documented criminal justice positions #### Kenneth Yasger No documented criminal justice positions Democratic Primary — 7 Candidates ### Keisha Lance Bottoms Former Atlanta Mayor · Frontrunner (35% in polls) Relevant Experience, No Specific Positions #### Relevant Record - As mayor: banned cash bonds for city ordinance violations - Criticized Governor Kemp for reversing Nathan Deal-era criminal justice reforms #### 2026 Campaign Focus - Medicaid expansion, teacher taxes, housing — not prison reform Has relevant experience but has NOT taken specific positions on prison conditions, parole reform, GDC oversight, sentencing, or the DOJ findings in this campaign. ### Geoff Duncan Former Lt. Governor · Switched from Republican to Democrat in 2025 Some CJ Record, Not Prioritized #### Relevant Record - Sponsored SB 441 (Criminal Record Responsibility Act) - Supported hate crimes legislation (2020) #### 2026 Campaign Focus - Childcare, healthcare, housing — NOT criminal justice ### Jason Esteves Former State Senator · Entrepreneur No CJ Positions #### Campaign - "New generation of leadership" — cost of living, housing, childcare, Medicaid - Prison reform positions not prominently featured ### Mike Thurmond Former DeKalb County CEO · Former Labor Commissioner No CJ Positions #### Campaign - "Turn-around expert" — cost of living, healthcare, coalition-building - Prison reform positions not prominently featured ### Derrick Jackson State Representative, District 68 General Statements Only #### Statements - "Reimagining community safety from an intersectional perspective" - Addresses school-to-prison pipeline - Higher-level statements, no specific policy commitments on parole, sentencing, or conditions Libertarian ### Chase Oliver 2024 Libertarian Presidential Nominee Positions TBD #### Status - Must gather 78,000+ signatures for ballot access - Georgia-specific prison positions not yet documented ## Accountability Matrix — Governor's Race Green = supports reform. Red = opposes/would expand. Yellow = general statements only. Gray = no position. | Issue | Jones (R) | Jackson (R) | Carr (R) | Raff. (R) | Olinger (R) | Bottoms (D) | Duncan (D) | Esteves (D) | Thurmond (D) | D. Jackson (D) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parole reform | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Prison conditions / GDC oversight | — | — | — | — | YES | General | — | — | — | General | | Truth in Sentencing reform | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Mandatory minimums | EXPAND | — | EXPAND | — | REDUCE | — | — | — | — | — | | Cash bail | EXPAND | — | — | — | — | REFORM | — | — | — | — | | Earned time credits | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Commissary pricing | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Prison worker wages | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Elderly/lifer release | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | DOJ investigation | — | — | FIGHT | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Transgender prisoners | BAN | — | FIGHT | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Independent oversight | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | — | | Deal-era reform restoration | — | — | — | — | — | YES | — | — | — | — | GPS does not endorse candidates. This page presents documented positions and public records. [Return to the full Election Guide →](/2026-primary-election/)