{"id":2604738,"date":"2026-05-19T21:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T01:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-burt-jones-and-rick-jackson-head-to-georgia-governor-runoff\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T21:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T01:27:18","slug":"trump-backed-burt-jones-and-rick-jackson-head-to-georgia-governor-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-burt-jones-and-rick-jackson-head-to-georgia-governor-runoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump-backed Burt Jones and Rick Jackson head to Georgia governor runoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-backed-burt-jones-and-rick-jackson-head-to-georgia-governor-runoff%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604738&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Georgia\u2019s GOP gubernatorial primary is headed too a June 16 runoff between Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson after neither won a majority. With the Associated Press calling the race at 8:38 p.m.and about 33% of ballots reported, Jones led with 36.8% and Jackson followed with 34.7%, while Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger placed third with 15%.<\/p>\n<p>The contest was the most expensive in Georgia GOP history, with over $100 million spent, and Jackson-entering later and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >outspending opponents-created major disruption<\/a> in the race. Jones had Trump\u2019s endorsement tied to sticking with Trump after the 2020 election, while the campaign turned contentious: Jackson branded himself an outsider, and Jones argued his record as lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n<p>Mutual allegations and controversies intensified, including Jones-backed efforts to block taxpayer-funded contracts for Jackson\u2019s healthcare company, Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones\u2019s endorsement of Jackson, and questions about whether Jackson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-senate-approves-300-weekly-checks-for-unemployed-illegals\/\" title=\"CA Senate OKs 0 Weekly Aid for Jobless Undocumented.\">employed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-happening-president-trump-issues-warning-swing-states-that-found-massive-voter-fraud-which-is-all-of-them-cannot-legally-certify-these-votes\/\" title=\"IT\u2019S HAPPENING: President Trump Issues Warning \u2013 Swing States that Found MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD, which is all of them, CANNOT LEGALLY CERTIFY these votes\">illegal immigrants<\/a><\/a> at his mansion. In a key debate, Jones questioned Jackson about illegal employment, and Jackson responded, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d The runoff will determine whether Trump\u2019s support for Jones or Jackson\u2019s financial advantages proves decisive.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"164\">Georgia<\/a> GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) and businessman Rick Jackson are advancing to a runoff election.<\/p>\n<p>Already the most expensive primary in Georgia history, Jones and Jackson will face off again in a June 16 runoff after neither candidate secured the majority needed to win outright on Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race at 8:38 p.m. With 33% of ballots counted, Jones received 36.8% of the vote, while Jackson earned 34.7%.<\/p>\n<p>Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finished in third place, holding 15% of the votes.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4575306\/trump-burt-jones-rick-jackson-runoff-georgia-gop-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump-backed Burt Jones and Rick Jackson head to Georgia GOP governor runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sports\/4575304\/naacp-call-black-student-boycott-southern-college-sport\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NAACP calls for Black students to boycott Southern college sports<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4574148\/nancy-pelosi-endorses-connie-chan-congress\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pelosi endorses Connie Chan to succeed her in Congress<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The GOP primary campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) was the most expensive in Georgia\u2019s history, with more than $100 million spent to date. Jackson, a healthcare executive, shook up the race when he launched his campaign back in February and vastly outspent his GOP opponents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Prior to Jackson\u2019s entrance into the primary battle, Jones was expected to lead the pack with Trump\u2019s backing. Jones, who has spent $20 million on the race, was rewarded with Trump\u2019s endorsement for sticking with him after the 2020 election, unlike Raffensperger, who rejected the president\u2019s false claim that the election was stolen.<\/p>\n<p>The contest between Jones and Jackson turned bitter in recent weeks.\u00a0Jackson has campaigned on being a political outsider, while Jones has argued he has proved himself as a statewide executive as Georgia\u2019s lieutenant governor. Jones pushed legislation that sought to disqualify Jackson\u2019s healthcare company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts.<\/p>\n<p>The effort, however, stirred controversy, pushing House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones to endorse Jackson, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/burt-jones-georgia-governor-republican-0d1adbec70df34d801b9a93b55d286d6\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/burt-jones-georgia-governor-republican-0d1adbec70df34d801b9a93b55d286d6\">telling the <em>Associated Press<\/em><\/a>  that \u201cBurt is more concerned about things that are self-interested for him and his family, and he uses the power of that position to enhance his financial situation like he\u2019s done in the past.<\/p>\n<p>Jackson, meanwhile, has been mired in controversy over whether or not he employed illegal immigrants at his mansion. The healthcare executive has made the deportation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illegal-immigrants-guilty-of-dui-assault-will-not-be-deported-under-biden-plan\/\" title=\"... Gui...y of DUI, Assau... Will Not Be Deported Under Biden Plan\">illegal immigrants convicted<\/a> of a crime a cornerstone of his campaign.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4574223\/georgia-judge-allows-poll-watchers-monitor-tabulation-primary-results\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4574223\/georgia-judge-allows-poll-watchers-monitor-tabulation-primary-results\/\"><strong>GEORGIA JUDGE ALLOWS POLL WATCHERS TO MONITOR TABULATION OF PRIMARY RESULTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>During the race\u2019s only primary debate, Jones asked Jackson if he had employed any illegal immigrants, to which Jackson replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The June runoff election will be a test of whether Trump\u2019s endorsement can push Jones across the finish line or if Jackson\u2019s large pocketbook will win out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Georgia GOP candidates Jones and Jackson head to a June 16 runoff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2604741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-gfftx1j6x-1779237970090.jpg?1779223665&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[53014,79963,56924,78677,5507],"class_list":["post-2604738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-burt-jones","tag-georgia-governor-runoff","tag-republican-primary","tag-rick-jackson-2","tag-trump-backed"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-gfftx1j6x-1779237970090.jpg?1779223665&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604738"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604743,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604738\/revisions\/2604743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}