Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson have advanced to a runoff in the Republican primary for governor after securing the top two finishers in Tuesday’s election, eliminating Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state Attorney General Chris Carr. The runoff will take place on June 16.
Recent polling showed Jackson leading with 34.5% support while Jones held 36.7%, with neither candidate achieving a majority of the vote. Early results, reflecting 29% of expected votes counted, highlighted an extremely competitive contest between the pair as they vie to succeed term-limited GOP Governor Brian Kemp.
Jackson, who spent at least $50 million of his own money launching his campaign, emphasized his background: he was raised by a single mother who grappled with alcoholism and experienced multiple foster homes before building a multi-billion-dollar healthcare business. He positioned himself as an outsider unconnected to special interest groups, branding Jones a “career politician.”
Jones, meanwhile, has leaned on President Trump’s endorsement while questioning Jackson’s conservative credentials. “Barely more than 100 days ago, we sent an earthquake through the political establishment when we entered the race,” Jackson stated in a recent campaign speech. “We shook the career politicians and insiders to their core. But the job is not done—we have four weeks to finish it.”
Jones countered: “Burt Jones is a political insider who’s been in office 14 years, working inside the system for his own benefit while promising tax relief and failing to deliver. I’m the opposite. I don’t owe the lobbyists anything. I don’t need the establishment’s permission. I cannot be bought, and I will not back down.”
Jackson has poured an estimated $80 million into advertising since launching his campaign in February, according to AdImpact data. His ads have saturated Georgia’s airwaves, drawing attention from Republican candidates running for other offices statewide. He frequently compared himself to Trump, declaring: “Like President Trump, I don’t owe anybody anything, and like you, I’m sick of career politicians.”
Notably, Jackson’s ads aired in Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach, Florida—locations near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Despite this effort, Trump recently reiterated his support for Jones at a tele-rally, dismissing speculation that Jackson could sway the former president.
