Overview
- Rick Jackson filed a defamation lawsuit in Fulton County accusing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones of three false social-media statements about his business ties and transgender-related care.
- Burt Jones launched a seven-figure TV campaign featuring President Donald Trump’s endorsement and ads attacking Jackson over a Planned Parenthood job listing and claims tied to transgender medical services.
- Jones’s campaign amplified its messaging with a mobile billboard and a website targeting Jackson’s background, while Jackson’s complaint argues the allegations were timed to blunt his momentum.
- A federal judge temporarily blocked Jones’s leadership committee from raising or spending money for his 2026 bid as Jackson pursues a separate challenge to the fundraising setup.
- Recent surveys diverge, with a JMC poll showing Jackson ahead and an Emerson poll indicating a close race, as Jackson’s ad spending nears $16 million and a June 16 runoff looms if no candidate reaches 50%.