Buddy Carter Endorses Burt Jones in Georgia Governor Runoff

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on June 11 in the Republican runoff for Georgia governor. The move comes five days before voters decide between Jones and Rick Jackson on June 16. Carter, who finished outside the top two in the May 19 U.S. Senate primary, adds another voice to Jones's coalition ahead of the final stretch.

Carter's Endorsement Adds to Jones's Backing

Carter's support arrives as Jones campaigns with repeated endorsements from President Donald Trump. Trump first backed Jones in August 2025 and has continued that support through tele-rallies. Carter's announcement, reported the same day it was made, gives Jones an additional congressional ally in the closing days of the race.

Jones advanced from the May 19 primary alongside Jackson after neither cleared 50 percent. Carter had sought the Senate nomination but conceded after placing behind Mike Collins and Derek Dooley. His decision to back Jones now focuses his influence on the gubernatorial contest rather than lingering Senate dynamics.

Runoff Narrows Field After May Primary

The May 19 primary winnowed the Republican field to Jones and Jackson for the June 16 runoff. Eight candidates appeared on the GOP ballot overall. Jones and Jackson each secured enough support to force the second round, setting up a direct contest for the nomination.

The winner will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November. Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination earlier in the cycle. The general election matchup will test the Republican nominee's ability to consolidate the primary vote against a former Atlanta mayor with statewide name recognition.

Fundraising and Polling Among Top Contenders

Four candidates stood out in the broader primary field by fundraising totals and polling. Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive who entered late in February 2026, self-funded more than $30 million and led recent surveys at 27 to 32 percent. Burt Jones raised roughly $3.9 million and sat near 24 to 25 percent in the same polls. Chris Carr, the attorney general, led external fundraising with about $4.9 million while trailing the top two. Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state, reported $864,000 raised plus roughly $5 million self-funded and polled around 14 percent.

Jackson's heavy television spending and self-funding gave him an early edge in name identification. Jones relied more on Trump's repeated endorsements and institutional support within the party. Carr's fundraising lead among non-self-funded candidates positioned him as a potential alternative before the primary results narrowed the field. Raffensperger's history of resisting pressure in 2020 remained a point of contrast for some voters.

Vote Scheduled for June 16

Polls open for the runoff on June 16. Absentee and early voting options remain available in the final days. The outcome will determine the Republican nominee who advances to the November general election against Keisha Lance Bottoms.