Overview
- Rick Jackson is running ads that splice praise from Gov. Brian Kemp and has spent heavily on the runoff campaign while campaigning in Coastal Georgia and defending his decision to skip a recent Atlanta debate.
- Kemp’s office has said the governor has not endorsed either Jackson or Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and a Kemp adviser confirmed his only announced runoff endorsement so far is for another race.
- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones retains the high-profile backing of President Donald Trump, giving Jones a major advantage inside the state GOP ahead of the runoff.
- Early voting for the Republican runoff begins June 8, putting a premium on each campaign’s turnout operation in a contest that normally draws low participation.
- The winner of the June 16 GOP runoff will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November, and the race could shift statewide policy debates because Jackson champions steep tax cuts and school culture changes while Jones leans on his record in state government.