Rick Jackson, a Republican candidate for Georgia governor, has made eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs a central plank of his campaign, promising to "ban DEI insanity and criminalize reverse discrimination" if elected. However, audio recordings from his former company show executives praising the company's diversity initiatives during his tenure as founder and CEO.

Jackson, 71, announced his candidacy on Feb. 3, joining an already-crowded Republican primary field that includes seven other announced candidates. He is the billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare staffing and recruiting company with over 1,500 employees nationwide.

The candidate's campaign website outlines a platform that includes freezing property taxes, slashing income tax and continuing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Jackson has repeatedly emphasized merit-based hiring as a core principle.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive critics and Democratic analysts have pointed to the apparent contradiction between Jackson's current position on DEI and his company's past practices. They argue that the candidate is attempting to score political points by attacking workplace diversity initiatives while his own company benefited from such programs.

Matthew Harrison, who served in executive-level DEI roles at Jackson Healthcare from early 2018 through August 2022, described in a 2020 podcast interview how the company's leadership actively supported diversity initiatives. Harrison held a PhD in workplace diversity and completed his thesis on "Colorism."

"I think it really reinforced for our associates that certainly, from a leadership perspective, our leaders get and see the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce at Jackson Healthcare," Harrison said. "It really is emulated as a part of our values."

The company launched a "Conversations on Race" series in October 2019, which Harrison described as being established at the direction of CEO Rick Jackson. "I think Rick felt that it was important enough, and we had a culture in place where we could establish that safe space," Harrison said.

What the Right Is Saying

Supporters of Jackson's campaign have defended his current position on DEI, arguing that his promises to ban such programs reflect mainstream Republican priorities on merit-based hiring. His campaign has pushed back against criticism of his company's past practices.

"The most pathetic attack yet from Burt Jones' failing campaign," said Dave Abrams, a Jackson campaign spokesperson, referring to Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, one of Jackson's primary opponents in the Republican primary. "Jackson Healthcare had a black pastor speak to a voluntary group of employees. That doesn't change the fact that Jackson Healthcare has always only hired the best."

The campaign argument centers on the distinction between mandatory DEI programs and voluntary workplace discussions. Republicans have increasingly framed opposition to DEI as essential to combating what they characterize as discriminatory hiring practices.

Jackson himself has stated his position clearly in campaign communications: "I'll ban DEI and focus on merit," he said in a recent interview highlighted on his campaign's social media.

What the Numbers Show

Jackson Healthcare, founded by Rick Jackson, is a healthcare staffing company that serves facilities nationwide. According to the company's website, it employs over 1,500 people.

The company has promoted Matthew Harrison's work through official Facebook posts. A 2021 post stated: "Senior Vice President of Talent & Development, Matthew Harrison, recently participated in a Tech Alpharetta panel about building diversity, equality and inclusion into business operations."

A 2019 Facebook post described Harrison as "VP of Human Resources" and noted he discussed "workplace diversity and how we're creating an environment that welcomes everyone." A 2022 post referenced Jackson's son, Shane Jackson, speaking at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business Diversity Conference.

The Republican primary for Georgia governor now includes at least eight candidates besides Jackson, making it one of the most crowded gubernatorial primaries in the country.

The Bottom Line

The tension between Rick Jackson's campaign promise to ban DEI and his company's past promotion of diversity initiatives highlights the evolving political terrain around workplace diversity policies. His campaign has characterized the criticism as a political attack from a primary opponent.

The candidate's position on DEI aligns with a broader Republican strategy making such programs a key campaign issue heading into the 2026 election cycle. The apparent contradiction between his company's past practices and current platform may face further scrutiny as the primary season progresses.

Voters will ultimately decide whether they view Jackson's current position as a genuine policy shift or a political recalibration. The crowded Republican primary means Jackson will need to distinguish himself on multiple issues beyond DEI to capture the nomination.