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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The campaign ad wars for Georgia's high-stakes gubernatorial election are officially underway.

Just over a week after her GOP opponent began airing the first ad in his massive $87 million ad buy, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms unveiled an attack ad of her own aimed at Republican Rick Jackson.

The ad features a clip of President Donald Trump's exclusive interview with Atlanta News First reporter Abby Kousouris during the president's recent visit to a Cobb County school.

The ad highlights Jackson's frequent comments that he plans to be Trump's  favorite governor,  including a quote from a Jackson speech in which he said,  I'll be like Trump, but with a Southern tone. 

The ad also features a clip of Trump touting a contribution of  a couple of million dollars  to the nation's 47th chief executive in 2026.

Jackson and Bottoms will cross paths Wednesday for the first time since their spring primary victories, appearing at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's 2026 congressional luncheon in Athens.

Jackson has already accepted an invitation to debate Bottoms in a town hall-style format hosted by Gray Media, parent company of Atlanta News First. Bottoms issued a challenge to Jackson for a series of debates earlier this year, but the former Atlanta mayor has not yet accepted the Gray Media debate invitation.

In a story first reported by Atlanta News First, Jackson's campaign announced earlier last week the largest general election ad buy so far in Georgia's nationally watched gubernatorial race.

Jackson's first attack ad focused on Bottoms' term as Atlanta mayor; her use of taxpayer dollars to buy flights for her husband to attend a Super Bowl; and an alleged $11,000 on a luxury car service for travel.

The Bottoms campaign said the then-mayor recognized on her own the purchases were not made using a personal account, and the money was reimbursed.

Jackson spent a huge amount out of his own fortune to win the gubernatorial primary last month. The billionaire founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare stunned G

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