Georgia Republican Gubernatorial Runoff Set for Tuesday as Jones Holds Lead Over Jackson
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones faces self-funded challenger Rick Jackson, who has spent over $100 million, in the Republican runoff. The winner will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
apnews.comGeorgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare executive Rick Jackson will face each other Tuesday in the Republican runoff for governor. ” The spot used AI-generated imagery of voters recoiling at Jackson’s image.
Jackson entered the race in February and finished six points behind Jones in the May primary, beating Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr. He received roughly one-third of the primary vote. AdImpact data show Jackson had given his campaign more than $100 million entering the weekend, ranking him the second-biggest advertiser of the 2026 cycle.
He spent $90 million on advertising, produced more than 380 unique ads, and generated more than 450 million impressions. Jones loaned his campaign $25 million and spent more than $35 million on advertising, ranking third among individual candidates this cycle. Jackson donated $1 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc.
A little over a month before he launched his campaign. President Donald Trump endorsed Jones last year and held a tele-rally with him this week. “It’s very important you get out and vote for Burt. He’s been with me from the very beginning,” Trump said on the call.
Jones has leaned on that endorsement in the runoff. ” University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said self-funded candidates have a mixed record in Georgia. He cited former Sen.
Kelly Loeffler’s 2021 runoff loss and businessman Guy Millner’s three unsuccessful statewide races in the 1990s. ” Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, won the Democratic nomination outright in the May primary.
