Businessman Rick Jackson defeated Trump- and Kemp-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Georgia GOP gubernatorial runoff on Tuesday.
When NBC News called the race at around 9:20 p.m., Jackson led Jones 53% to 47% with 79.6% of the vote counted.
Jackson’s victory over Jones came just one day after Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp threw his support behind the lieutenant governor. Kemp praised the Trump-backed candidate in an X post as a “strong, trusted ally” who helped deliver more than $9 billion in tax relief, strengthen pay and retirement benefits for law enforcement, and pass what the governor described as Georgia’s first meaningful tort reform legislation in two decades. (RELATED: Georgia GOP Chaos Erupts Just Days Before Primary Runoff)
“I believe Burt Jones will make a strong case to the voters for four more years of conservative leadership that ensures our state’s best days are ahead, while Democrats try to run from Keisha Lance Bottoms’ record of complete failure as mayor of Atlanta,” Kemp said. “Marty, the girls, and I are proud to endorse Burt Jones to be the 84th Governor of the great state of Georgia and ask you to join us in supporting him on Tuesday.”
Jackson responded by embracing his outsider status and drawing a contrast with the Georgia political establishment. (RELATED: LT. GOV. BURT JONES: Georgia Needs Its Own DOGE)
“I have always been the outsider in this race,” Jackson wrote on X. He added that he is “not beholden to anyone” and vowed to fight for Georgians who “don’t have a lobbyist and aren’t served by the special interests.”
Jackson will face former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.