Rick Jackson Defeats Burt Jones in Georgia GOP Governor Runoff

Healthcare executive Rick Jackson won Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, overcoming Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and setting up a November general election matchup against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson won the Republican nomination for Georgia governor Tuesday, defeating Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP runoff despite Jones entering the race with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

NBC News projected Jackson as the winner a little more than two hours after polls closed in Georgia. At the time the race was called, nearly 82% of ballots had been counted, and Jackson led Jones 52.9% to 47.1%.

A separate election update was also shared through a Decision Desk HQ post Tuesday night.

Jackson and Jones advanced to the runoff after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the May 19 Republican primary. Jones finished first in that contest with 38.4%, while Jackson placed second with 32.5%. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr were also defeated in the primary.

Jones entered the race six months before Jackson and had the early support of Trump. Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., also endorsed Jones late in the runoff campaign.

Jackson, a first-time candidate, poured more than $100 million of his own money into the campaign, according to reports. He presented himself as a political outsider, drawing comparisons to Trump’s outsider branding while making up ground against Jones during the runoff.

The victory gives Jackson the Republican nomination in a state that has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. He will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.

The runoff result also split the night for Trump-backed candidates in Georgia’s major statewide races. While Jones lost the gubernatorial runoff, Trump’s preferred candidate in Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senate race, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., defeated Kemp-backed former football coach Derek Dooley.

Collins will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., in November.