A pile of legislative wins could give Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) the resources he needs to fuel a gubernatorial campaign.
As Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R-GA) second and final term draws to an end, Jones is among the GOP candidates expected to launch a bid to replace the Peach State’s chief executive.
When Georgia’s legislative session came to an end last week, state lawmakers pushed a stack of bills backed by Jones across the finish line, likely giving the lieutenant governor a boost with Republican voters should he throw his hat in the gubernatorial ring.
One of those bills was SB 1, which would ban biological males from participating in women’s sports across Georgia.
“Since I took office in 2023 as Lt. Governor, the Senate has led the way to make protections for females competing in athletics on any level a reality,” Jones said in a celebratory statement after Georgia’s General Assembly passed the measure. “I had the honor of joining President Trump earlier this year when he signed an executive order ensuring these protections on the federal level, and I am proud that Georgia is leading the way on this effort.”
“I look forward to standing with Governor Brian Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns, and female athletes with their families around the state when the ‘Riley Gaines Act of 2025’ is signed into law,” he added.
Last week, Jones also touted the final passage of HB 136, which creates a child tax credit and expands child care tax programs, issues state Attorney General Chris Carr, expected to be Jones’s biggest rival in the governor race, also made a legislative priority.
“This legislation will ensure that Georgia’s workers have access to affordable and quality childcare, while encouraging more businesses to offer childcare,” Jones said. “My priorities for this session have remained the same; supporting Georgia’s educators, businesses who employ them, and parents who are entering or already in the workforce. I am proud that we achieved just that.”
Another bill aimed at strengthening school safety that Jones backed also passed the state legislature, with the legislative victory coming after Georgia was devastated by a school shooting last September that took four lives.
Georgia’s 2026 gubernatorial race will likely be tight, although the state has experienced a shift to the right in recent years. After losing the state in 2020, President Donald Trump flipped the state red during the 2024 presidential election.
During the 2022 gubernatorial election, Kemp won 53.4%-45.9% against Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, widening his margin of victory compared to his 50.2%-48.8% win against Abrams in 2018.
Carr announced in November he would run for governor, setting himself up for a showdown with Jones, particularly over who can capture Trump’s endorsement.
In 2022, Carr pitted himself against MAGA when he ran a successful primary campaign against Trump-backed candidate John Gordon. But Carr has since cozied up to the president, including through filing court briefs defending Trump’s decision to deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members, as he seeks to build conservative rapport in Georgia.
“I know that the Trump administration is going to be far better on the issues that I care about, which are jobs and the economy, safety and an immigration system that starts with defending the nation,” Carr told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month.
However, the tactics may not keep Trump from endorsing Jones, according to allies of the president.
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“Chris Carr has zero appeal in MAGAworld,” Bruce Levell, a Trump ally with ties to Georgia, told the outlet. “Burt Jones is the highest-level MAGA candidate there is in Georgia. And if you’re not aligned with Trump’s strong conservative policies, there’s no pathway to any higher office as a Republican in Georgia.”
Potential Democratic contenders for the governor’s seat include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, former DeKalb Chief Executive Michael Thurmond, and Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA).