Republican governor candidate's wife quietly donating to key Dem in battleground state

Rick Jackson is running to be the Republican nominee for governor in Georgia — but his wife may have different allegiances.

According to filings from the Federal Election Commission, Melody Jackson, the candidate's spouse, gave a $1,000 contribution to Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in February 2025 — a key Democratic lawmaker that Republicans were hoping to seriously contest this year.

The filing lists the donor's city, state, and ZIP code as Cumming, Georgia 30041 — the same ZIP code as Rick Jackson's 47,000-square-foot estate known as "Le Reve," and lists her occupation as "professor" at "Georgia Tech," matching her public profile.

Jackson, a billionaire who runs the company Jackson Healthcare, has faced other awkward contradictions on the campaign trail as well.

Last month, for example, reports discovered that his company slammed President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," saying in a statement that the legislation's "sweeping cuts to Medicaid and ACA programs raise serious concerns about access, equity, and sustainability," warning that hospitals may need to "adapt or close their doors."

Jackson has a handful of endorsements, including former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Georgia House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, and former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

However, he faces a crowded field of challengers, including state Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Perhaps his most notable challenger is Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump himself.