Jackson and Jones Head to June 16 Governor Runoff

Georgia voters return to the polls June 16 for primary runoffs after the May 19 general primary produced no majority winner in several high-profile Republican contests, including the race for governor. The June 16 ballot features Rick Jackson against Burt Jones for the GOP nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp, along with runoffs in the U.S. Senate and lieutenant governor races.

Runoff Narrows Governor Field

The Republican primary for governor advanced only two candidates to the June 16 runoff. Rick Jackson, the billionaire healthcare executive who entered late and self-funded more than $30 million, faces Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who secured the Trump endorsement. The original field also included Attorney General Chris Carr, the top external fundraiser, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who raised $864,000 externally while self-funding about $5 million.

Jackson and Jones each fell short of 50 percent on May 19, triggering the runoff under Georgia rules. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in November and carry the advantage of unified Republican support in a state that has elected GOP governors since 2003.

Other Statewide Races Also Advance

Multiple other Republican nominations require runoffs. In the U.S. Senate primary, Mike Collins faces Derek Dooley. For lieutenant governor, Greg Dolezal competes against John F. Kennedy. These contests join the governor race on the June 16 ballot, according to reporting from the Georgia Recorder.

The runoffs determine the party's standard-bearers across the statewide ticket. A single runoff day consolidates turnout efforts and allows campaigns to focus resources on the same voters who participated May 19.

Voting Logistics and Party Rules

Early voting for the runoff begins as early as June 6 in some counties and runs through June 12 in others, with most locations opening around June 8. Election day voting occurs June 16 at regular polling places.

Voters who cast ballots in the May 19 primary must select the same party ballot in the runoff. Nonpartisan voters may choose either the Democratic or Republican ballot. This rule, outlined by Cobb County Elections, preserves the closed-primary structure while allowing independents flexibility.

Next Steps After June 16

The June 16 winners become the Republican nominees for the November general election. No additional runoffs are scheduled. Campaigns now shift focus to consolidating support within their parties ahead of the final two weeks of early voting and the runoff itself.