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. The May 19, 2026 primary is over — the Republican race heads to a June 16 runoff.
Burt Jones
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
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
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
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
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
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
Keisha Lance Bottoms
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
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
Campaign
- “New generation of leadership” — cost of living, housing, childcare, Medicaid
- Prison reform positions not prominently featured
Mike Thurmond
Campaign
- “Turn-around expert” — cost of living, healthcare, coalition-building
- Prison reform positions not prominently featured
Derrick Jackson
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
Chase Oliver
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 →