Rick Jackson defeats Burt Jones to win Georgia GOP gubernatorial nomination, CBS News projects
Updated on: June 16, 2026 / 9:48 PM EDT / CBS Atlanta
TL;DR
- Rick Jackson won the Republican runoff for Georgia governor, as projected by CBS News.
- He defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a highly contested primary race.
- Jackson, a self-described conservative outsider and healthcare executive, self-funded his campaign significantly.
- His campaign narrative focused on his personal story of growing up in poverty and overcoming adversity.
- The race was marked by legal challenges, including lawsuits filed by Jackson against Jones.
- Both candidates shared similar policy stances on issues like tax cuts and law enforcement.
- Jackson will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election.