Dalton, Ga. — As the midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump has focused his campaign efforts on heavily Republican areas, seeking to energize his base. However, his visit to Dalton, a city known as the “carpet capital of the world” with an economy reliant on immigrant labor, presents unique challenges for local Republican candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson.
Dalton’s population is more than half Hispanic, with nearly a third of residents foreign-born. This demographic makeup contrasts with the hard-line immigration rhetoric that has become a signature element of Trump’s midterm message. Jackson, who is scheduled to appear alongside Trump at a rally in Dalton, has sought to balance his association with the former president by highlighting his independence amid a competitive gubernatorial race. Recent polls show Jackson holding a slim lead over Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, with some surveys reflecting a margin of around two percentage points.
Trump’s approval rating remains low, at approximately 38 percent as of early October, influenced by ongoing tensions with Iran and economic concerns, including rising prices. During his visit to Dalton, Trump reiterated his tough stance on immigration, warning of perceived threats tied to border security. He claimed that foreign countries have “emptied their prisons” into the United States, with many individuals arriving in Georgia unchecked and described potential consequences if Republicans fail to secure victories in upcoming elections.
Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat representing Georgia, was specifically criticized by Trump, who accused him of facilitating policies that lead to "open borders." The president’s comments reflect his broader midterm strategy to frame immigration as a key issue and mobilize Republican voters.
Local Republican officials expressed differing views on the approach. State Representative Kasey Carpenter, whose district includes Dalton, acknowledged the political sensitivity of immigration in the area and suggested that strict enforcement should be tempered with pathways to permanent residence to support the state’s labor needs. Carpenter also noted that Trump’s political influence has complicated past campaigns, referencing the 2020 Senate race in Georgia where former Senator Kelly Loeffler struggled to define her identity amid Trump’s dominant presence.
During Friday’s rally, Jackson initially avoided mentioning Trump directly, focusing instead on his background and contrasting himself with Lance Bottoms, whom he criticized for her tenure as Atlanta’s mayor. When Trump called Jackson to the stage, the gubernatorial candidate spoke briefly, emphasizing his commitment to vulnerable populations such as foster children.
Jackson’s campaign embraces many of Trump’s immigration policies, including pledges to deport undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and collaborate closely with federal authorities. This stance has drawn criticism from Lance Bottoms, who has positioned Jackson’s connection to Trump as a key point of attack, accusing him of political opportunism and inconsistency.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mike Collins, Jackson’s opponent in the race against Ossoff, defended strong ties to Trump as essential for turnout in the midterms, noting that the former president energizes the party’s base, particularly in an election cycle with less visibility than a presidential year. Trump has also encouraged Georgia Republicans to vote by mail despite ongoing, unsubstantiated claims about mail-in voting fraud.
Jackson’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The interplay of Trump’s divisive immigration message and Georgia’s immigrant-dependent economy highlights the complex electoral terrain Republican candidates face as they seek to balance national party alignment with local voter concerns.