Jackson dismisses a Republican-led state takeover of the Atlanta airport; Keisha Lance Bottoms touts her track record of business development at Georgia Chamber luncheon.
Gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson (right) speaks with moderator Brian Robinson during the Georgia Chamber congressional luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at the Classic Center in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
ATHENS — For years, Georgia Republicans have toyed with the idea of a state takeover of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, but GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson isn’t one of them.
“Delta is our main customer, and as long as (they are happy), Georgia doesn’t need to take over the airport, in my opinion,” Jackson said Wednesday at the Georgia Chamber’s annual congressional luncheon.
The city of Atlanta has jurisdiction over Hartsfield-Jackson, but the threat of a state takeover of the world’s busiest airport has lurked in the background of Georgia politics for years.
Republicans in the Georgia Legislature attempted to take over the Atlanta airport during Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms tenure as Atlanta mayor. Lt. Gov Burt Jones, who was defeated by Jackson in this year’s primary runoff in June, introduced legislation in 2019 that would give the state control of the airport.
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Gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms (right) speaks with moderator Tharon Johnson during the Georgia Chamber congressional luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at the Classic Center in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Sophia Eppley is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2026 summer politics intern.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
