Georgia GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) and businessman Rick Jackson are advancing to a runoff election.
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%.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finished in third place, holding 15% of the votes.
The GOP primary campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) was the most expensive in Georgia’s 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.
Prior to Jackson’s entrance into the primary battle, Jones was expected to lead the pack with Trump’s backing. Jones, who has spent $20 million on the race, was rewarded with Trump’s endorsement for sticking with him after the 2020 election, unlike Raffensperger, who rejected the president’s false claim that the election was stolen.
The contest between Jones and Jackson turned bitter in recent weeks. Jackson has campaigned on being a political outsider, while Jones has argued he has proved himself as a statewide executive as Georgia’s lieutenant governor. Jones pushed legislation that sought to disqualify Jackson’s healthcare company from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts.
The effort, however, stirred controversy, pushing House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones to endorse Jackson, telling the Associated Press that “Burt 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’s done in the past.
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 illegal immigrants convicted of a crime a cornerstone of his campaign.
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During the race’s only primary debate, Jones asked Jackson if he had employed any illegal immigrants, to which Jackson replied, “I don’t know.”
The June runoff election will be a test of whether Trump’s endorsement can push Jones across the finish line or if Jackson’s large pocketbook will win out.