Political Editor Savannah Witt
Published May 20, 2026
Voters sent billionaire Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to a June 16 runoff in the Republican primary for Georgia governor after the May 19 vote left neither with a majority. Partial results showed Jones at roughly 36 percent and Jackson at 34 to 35 percent, according to NBC News. The outcome sets up a contest between a late-entering self-funder and the Trump-endorsed incumbent lieutenant governor.
Primary Vote Totals Trigger Mandatory Runoff
The May 19 primary produced no outright winner among eight candidates on the ballot. Georgia law requires a runoff between the top two finishers when no candidate clears 50 percent. Jackson and Jones cleared that threshold while Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr fell short and will not advance.
Jackson entered the race only in February 2026 yet finished first or second despite starting as an unknown to most voters. Jones, the sitting lieutenant governor, relied on his statewide profile and three endorsements from President Donald Trump. The other two top-tier candidates, Raffensperger and Carr, split the remaining vote and exited after the primary.
Record $100 Million Spending War Reshapes Race
The primary set a new mark for Georgia gubernatorial spending, exceeding $100 million in total. Jackson alone spent more than $50 million, while the two runoff participants combined for nearly $100 million, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting. Attack ads dominated the airwaves in the final weeks.
The spending surge came almost entirely from Jackson's personal fortune after he entered late. Jones raised roughly $3.9 million from donors but faced an opponent willing to outspend him by multiples. Raffensperger and Carr raised substantial sums yet could not match the pace set by the top two.
| Candidate | Primary Standing | Key Spending Detail |
|---|
| Rick Jackson | Advanced to runoff (34-35%) | Over $50 million spent |
| Burt Jones | Advanced to runoff (36%) | Nearly $100 million combined with Jackson |
| Brad Raffensperger | Did not advance | Lower total than top two |
| Chris Carr | Did not advance | Lower total than top two |
Trump Backing and Candidate Backgrounds Frame Runoff
Jones carries the only endorsement from President Trump among the remaining candidates. Jackson built his lead through television saturation rather than traditional party networks after entering the race just three months before the primary, according to New York Times coverage.
Raffensperger's 2020 refusal to alter election results and Carr's record as attorney general defined their campaigns but proved insufficient against the spending onslaught. Both men remain in office until their terms end but will not compete for governor this cycle.
The runoff begins immediately. Early voting starts May 26 and runs through June 12. The winner faces the Democratic nominee in November and succeeds term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.
