Georgia Earthquake: Endorsements Mean Nothing

A billionaire businessman with no political record just beat the Trump-backed lieutenant governor in Georgia’s Republican primary runoff — and it wasn’t close.

Story Snapshot

Rick Jackson, founder of Jackson Healthcare, defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in the June 16 Georgia GOP governor runoff to claim the Republican nomination.
Jones had endorsements from both President Trump and Governor Brian Kemp, yet still lost to the self-funded outsider.
Jackson spent roughly $83 million on his primary campaign, far outpacing Jones, and broke Georgia spending records.
Jackson now faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election for governor.

Outsider Beats the Establishment — Again

Rick Jackson entered Georgia’s governor’s race in February 2026 and immediately shook things up. ^[18] The Atlanta native founded Jackson Healthcare, a major staffing and services company based in Alpharetta, and pledged to self-fund a large share of his campaign. He had no prior political experience, but he leaned into that fact hard. At his election night watch party in Cobb County, Jackson told supporters, “I’m the only candidate who doesn’t owe a thing to the political establishment” and that he “can’t be bought.”

Jackson’s ground game backed up his outsider message. His campaign knocked on over 250,000 doors and made more than 700,000 phone calls before election day. In the May 19 primary, he pulled 32.5% of the vote. ^[1] That forced a runoff against Jones, who led the first round with 38%. On June 16, Jackson won that runoff and secured the Republican nomination.

Trump and Kemp Backed the Loser

Burt Jones entered the runoff as the clear establishment favorite. President Trump endorsed Jones, and Governor Brian Kemp backed him just days before the vote. ^[9] Kemp called Jones a trusted ally for Georgia conservatives. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas responded by endorsing Jackson and appearing with him in Alpharetta the day before the election. The split between Trump and Cruz added national attention to an already high-profile race.

Jones tried to make Jackson’s record-breaking spending a campaign issue. ^[3] He criticized the billionaire for trying to buy the nomination. That attack didn’t stick. Georgia voters chose the outsider anyway, sending a clear signal that big endorsements from party leaders don’t guarantee wins — even when the president is on your side. This marks the second failed Trump endorsement in this election cycle, according to political observers following the results.

IRS Disputes and a Record Spending Tab

Jackson’s campaign wasn’t without controversy. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has challenged tax deductions tied to several low-budget films Jackson produced over the years. His company, Jackson Investment Group, claimed around $90 million in deductions from four films that never turned a profit. ^[2] Three separate legal disputes with the IRS are ongoing. Jackson’s campaign focused instead on affordability and his business record, and voters appeared willing to look past the tax fights.

Trump-endorsed Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones loses Republican primary runoff for Governor to billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jacksonhttps://t.co/4twWmWnJ3Z

— What Now Tim (@whatnowtim) June 17, 2026

On the spending side, Jackson poured roughly $83 million into his primary campaign — a Georgia record. ^[17] For context, Jones spent nearly $31 million on advertising alone. Jackson’s total dwarfed that. Self-funded candidates breaking spending records is not new. In Illinois in 2018, J.B. Pritzker contributed over $171 million to his own governor’s race. ^[20] In Georgia, the scale of Jackson’s spending reshaped the entire primary from the start. Whether that money translates to a win in November against Keisha Lance Bottoms remains the big question for Georgia Republicans.

What’s Next for Georgia Republicans

Jackson now heads into the general election as the Republican nominee. His opponent, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, is a well-known figure in Georgia politics and a former Atlanta mayor. ^[1] Georgia has been a battleground state in recent cycles, and both parties will pour resources into the race. Jackson’s business background and outsider message may appeal to voters frustrated with career politicians. But his IRS disputes and massive personal spending will give Democrats plenty of material to work with between now and November.