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.
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