Billionaire Rick Jackson defeats Trump-backed Burt Jones in Georgia governor race
Republicans in Georgia just proved that one thing can overcome the power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement: an endless stream of cash.
Health care executive Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, with the help of over $100 million of his personal wealth.
Jones’ loss is a major upset for the president in a marquee battleground state, and it follows several high-profile Trump losses in 2022, when his candidates either lost their primaries or the general election. The result is also a rare blunder for Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who joined Trump in endorsing Jones to be his successor ahead of Tuesday’s primary, after months of sitting on the sidelines of the race.
Remarkably, neither Trump’s nor Kemp’s widespread influence could overcome the blunt force of Jackson’s spending.
Jackson, for his part, had amassed his own support from notable figures within Georgia and beyond. His former rival Attorney General Chris Carr backed the billionaire’s campaign shortly after coming in last place in May’s primary. And two Republican senators — Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida — endorsed his campaign ahead of the runoff. Cruz went as far to rally with Jackson on the eve of the runoff.
Jackson’s record-breaking spending dominated races in Georgia far beyond just the contest for governor. GOP strategists said his millions in ad spending sucked up all the political oxygen, making it more difficult for other Republicans up and down the ballot to break through in their own races.
In November, he will face Democrat and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has already kicked off her general election bid alongside Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Jackson, a Georgia native septuagenarian who often shares his story of drifting through the foster care system as a child, amassed his fortune in the health care industry. His successful bid for the GOP nomination is his first run for public office.
Over the course of the primary, Jackson faced a series of attacks from the most conservative members of Georgia’s GOP for not being sufficiently pro-Trump, primarily because he had previously donated to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). He later donated $1 million to one of the president’s main super PACs — but only after Trump had won the 2024 election.
Still, Jackson refashioned himself as a Trump acolyte during his campaign, often telling voters he would be the president’s “favorite governor” and questioning the veracity of Georgia’s 2020 thoroughly litigated election results.
CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to clarify how much money Rick Jackson spent on ads during primary.
