Before February 2026, it appeared that Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones would breeze into the Republican nomination for the November general election.
But then, Rick Jackson happened: a billionaire healthcare executive who entered the gubernatorial race by positioning himself as an outsider, despite aligning with President Donald Trump, and who brought a self-funded, $100‑million war chest.
Jones, also endorsed by Trump, suddenly faced a formidable challenger. Jackson proceeded to blister him with aggressive attack ads. The result: Rick Jackson is now the GOP nominee for Georgia governor and will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta.
Shock and the sheer expense of the race are being used to describe the governor’s race overall and the reactions to the Republican runoff results. Devin Barrington Ward, a progressive community organizer and managing director of the Black Futurist Group; Fred Hicks, an Atlanta‑based campaign strategist and Saba Long, an Atlanta‑based communications strategist, joined “Closer Look” host Rose Scott to break down Tuesday night’s outcome.
The panelists discussed potential strategies for both major parties as they work to energize their bases and persuade undecided and independent voters ahead of November.
All agreed that the U.S. Senate race between Mike Collins, a Trump-endorsed candidate, and incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff will be pivotal for down‑ballot races. They also noted that both Jackson and Bottoms will need to be highly selective and strategic in how they court voters.
Since entering the race, Jackson’s campaign has emphasized his “from nothing to something” life story. Standing before supporters Tuesday night after securing the nomination, he said:
“This campaign was never about me. It has always been about the people of Georgia, especially those who feel unheard by the powerful. Tonight belongs to you. Now the primary is over, and the general election begins. Georgia cannot afford to get this wrong. We face Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta. Keisha Lance Bottoms did such a bad job as mayor, she didn’t even run for reelection. She would be an absolute disaster for Georgia.”
Hicks noted that “campaigns are really about three things: defining yourself, defining your opponent, and defining the terms of the debate.” He added that Bottoms must remind voters that during her tenure as mayor, Brian Kemp was governor and Donald Trump was president.
“She tried to do a curfew — the governor wouldn’t allow her. She tried to get PPE into the city — the president wouldn’t allow it. He decided PPE should go to red states and red communities. She needs to remind people of that. And then she needs to look forward. Since Rick Jackson said he would be Trump’s favorite governor, she needs to ask voters: Is your life better now than it was 18 months ago?”
Barrington Ward argued that Bottoms no longer needs to explain why she didn’t seek a second term as mayor.
“I think she needs to be reminding folks that she knows what it’s like to actually run a government, to handle public safety, to make sure the trash is picked up on time, the streetlights work, and all the rest. I would encourage her to look forward and not keep negotiating with her past.”
On the question of progressive voters, Saba Long said there are key lessons to remember.
“Remind yourself of 2024 and think about today — 2026. If you had a problem with Kamala and chose not to vote, Donald Trump ended up becoming president. The exact same thing will happen.”
Long added, “There is no such thing as a perfect candidate. This is the nominee we have. We have an opportunity to make her more progressive if she’s elected — but we will never have that opportunity if Rick Jackson becomes governor. People have to recognize that this is not the moment to insist on the most progressive of the progressive in the governor’s mansion. This is the moment to elect someone who aligns with your values and then push that person further once they’re in office.”
