Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican primary runoff for governor on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The endorsement arrived two days before the June 16 runoff between Jones and healthcare executive Rick Jackson. Kemp had remained publicly neutral in the race for months after the May 19 primary produced no majority winner.
Timing of the Endorsement
Kemp waited until the final weekend to weigh in. His statement came after Jackson and Jones advanced from a crowded May 19 primary field. The governor's decision breaks a long stretch of silence that kept both runoff candidates without his direct backing.
The late timing limits the window for Jones to convert the endorsement into additional support. Voters head to the polls on June 16 with little time for new advertising or events built around Kemp's name. Jackson, who self-funded heavily earlier in the cycle, now faces a unified message from the sitting governor and the president.
Primary Field and Runoff Dynamics
Four candidates dominated the Republican primary by polling and fundraising. Rick Jackson led recent surveys after pouring tens of millions into television. Burt Jones placed second and carried three endorsements from President Donald Trump. Chris Carr raised the most outside money at roughly $4.9 million. Brad Raffensperger, who self-funded about $5 million on top of $864,000 raised, finished behind the top two.
Only Jackson and Jones cleared the threshold to reach the runoff. The other two top-tier contenders were eliminated on May 19. Kemp's endorsement now gives Jones the clearest institutional advantage heading into the final vote.
| Candidate | Primary Outcome | Key Backing |
|---|
| Burt Jones | Advanced to runoff | Trump endorsements; now Kemp |
| Rick Jackson | Advanced to runoff | Self-funding lead |
| Chris Carr | Eliminated | Top external fundraiser |
| Brad Raffensperger | Eliminated | 2022 re-election winner |
Path to the General Election
The June 16 winner will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms on November 3, 2026. Brian Kemp is term-limited and cannot seek a third term. Jones enters the final primary stretch with endorsements from both the governor and the president.
Jackson must overcome the combined weight of those two endorsements in the remaining hours before polls open. The runoff decides which Republican carries the party's banner against Bottoms in the fall.
