Rick Jackson paid $41 million to firm at center of DHS contract scandal

Rick Jackson, the Republican candidate for Georgia governor, paid $41 million to an advertising firm at the center of a corruption scandal involving government contracts.

Jackson’s campaign reported the payments to Smart Media Group in its ethics disclosures. The Virginia-based firm has worked with several high-profile GOP candidates and groups, including President Donald Trump.

In 2025, Smart Media Group received tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to place Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ads on television. How Smart Media Group acquired these funds is a strange and circuitous saga that ultimately led to the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

DHS, under Noem’s leadership, launched a $240 million advertising campaign encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave the United States. The ads featured Noem riding a horse through sweeping American vistas. This single campaign tripled DHS’ advertising budget from the previous fiscal year.

Typically, contracts to produce and place ads on behalf of a federal agency go through a bidding process. This helps ensure that public funds are spent responsibly and judiciously. DHS claimed, however, that the so-called “national emergency” on the southern border allowed it to bypass this requirement. The bulk of the contract was awarded to Safe America Media LLC, which was formed just days before receiving the funds. Safe America Media LLC then subcontracted Smart Media Group to place the ads.

Smart Media Group’s ties to Trump and Republicans instantly raised concerns that the contract was awarded as part of a kickback scheme. Those concerns grew when it was revealed that Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s chief adviser, had worked closely with Smart Media Group in the past.

In March, Noem told Congress that Trump had personally approved the ads and the contracts. Trump denied this and fired Noem shortly thereafter.

Jackson continued to work with Smart Media Group after this information became public. The situation is likely to be more thoroughly investigated if Democrats take control of the House and Senate next year.

Jackson will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election.