Jones loses Georgia GOP governor’s runoff to Jackson in major blow to Trump

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Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R), backed by both President Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp (R), is projected to lose the Republican runoff for Georgia governor to healthcare executive and billionaire Rick Jackson, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Jones’s loss deals a major blow to the president, adding another statewide loss to his primary scorecard.

Jackson will now face Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) in the general election, which the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report considers a “toss up.”

Jones was long seen as the frontrunner in the GOP race after he received an early endorsement from the president. A long-time ally of the president, Jones previously served as the Georgia co-chair for Trump’s first presidential campaign and signed Electoral College documents falsely claiming Trump beat former President Biden in the 2020 election.

Jackson’s entry into the primary to succeed term-limited Kemp earlier this year quickly shook up the key race, which was seen as a three-way contest between Jones, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R).

Jones was forced into a runoff against Jackson after no candidate won more than half of the vote outright during the initial May primary.

Jackson spent millions on his campaign and leaned on his personal background, noting his experience in foster care before becoming a successfull businessman. His win on Tuesday is a boon for Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.) as well as Carr, who all endorsed Jackson.

The primary battle between Jones and Jackson turned ugly, with both campaigns suing the other.

On the campaign trail, Jones questioned Jackson’s conservative bona fides, alleging Jackson “made his fortune recruiting for Planned Parenthood, helping doctors perform transgender procedures on minors, and pocketed over $1 billion in state contracts on the backs of Georgia taxpayers.”

That prompted Jackson to sue Jones for defamation and libel, saying in a court filing “Jones made up lies about his opponent. Pathetic.”

Meanwhile, a company owned by Jones sued Jackson for $100 million, alleging that the Jackson campaign implied that Jones Petroleum was involved in a criminal enterprise.

Both sides have refuted these accusations.

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Brad Raffensperger

Brian Kemp

Burt Jones

Chris Carr

Joe Biden

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Rick Scott

Ted Cruz

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