Georgia bill would bar candidates with state contracts from office

A Republican lawmaker introduced a bill last week that would bar certain people from running for public office.

The move came shortly before a judge ruled in favor of Republican Rick Jackson, whose lawsuit alleged that Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ access to campaign funds gave him an unfair advantage in the race for governor. Both Jackson and Jones have announced their candidacy for governor in 2026.

State Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth, introduced House Bill 1362 last week that would prohibit anyone from holding public office if they have any business with a state agency or have any financial interest in a state contract. Ridley has endorsed Jones’ candidacy for governor.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the move seems to target Jackson, whose companies have done extensive business with the state of Georgia.

“It’s a little surprising that a state representative who endorsed Burt is targeting his self-dealing,” spokesman Dave Abrams for the Jackson campaign told the AJC. “Would Burt have to resign immediately?”

On Friday, a federal judge ruled that Jones could no longer raise campaign funds through a special fundraising committee that helped Jones avoid campaign contribution limits that apply to other candidates.

Jackson, who recently announced his campaign for governor, applauded the decision.

“A federal court today made clear that Burt Jones doesn’t get his own rulebook,” Abrams told The Capitol Beat.

This is not the first time that the courts have barred the use of leadership committee funds for campaign purposes. Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican David Perdue won similar lawsuits in 2022 against Gov. Brian Kemp.

“We’re not surprised Rick Jackson is taking a page from Stacey Abrams’ playbook, using lawfare to target President Trump’s endorsed candidate for governor. Georgia Republicans have already rejected that strategy — and they’ll reject it again,” Kayla Lott, a spokeswoman for Jones’ campaign, told The Capitol Beat.