ABC 22 - WJCL Savannah · September 3, 2026
Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms presented contrasting proposals on Wednesday as they campaigned for Georgia governor, addressing human trafficking and grocery sales tax relief.
Jackson, speaking outside the state Capitol, introduced a plan to combat human trafficking by creating a "human trafficking strike force."
"Traffickers aren't targeting children in dark alleys. They're targeting them online," Jackson said.
He proposed funding the initiative with money from a recent state settlement with Meta, the social media company.
"The strike force would be equipped with the resources to proactively stop predators from recruiting, buying, and selling children on these platforms," Jackson said.
Bottoms criticized Jackson's focus on human trafficking, saying he is the wrong candidate to address the issue.
"The irony he would talk about human trafficking," Bottoms said.
According to a CNN report, one of Jackson's companies previously settled a legal dispute over the treatment of its immigrant workforce. A spokesperson for Jackson dismissed Bottoms' remarks as "disgusting" and a "ridiculous smear."
At a storefront, Bottoms pitched her own plan to allow local governments to suspend or eliminate sales taxes on groceries. She proposed using state budget funds to offset the revenue loss for municipalities.
"What we propose will give municipalities the option, plain and simple. I don't know any local leaders who don't like options," Bottoms said.
Her plan comes as Republican lawmakers have worked to lower some local property taxes and income taxes but have not addressed sales taxes.