Either Gov. Brian Kemp’s endorsement came too late, or it didn’t matter nearly enough.
One way or the other, Rick Jackson pulled off a relatively stunning turnaround on Tuesday, winning the Republican nomination for governor and defeating Burt Jones in the GOP primary runoff. Jones beat Jackson by six percentage points in the May primary, while Jackson beat Jones on Tuesday by more than five percentage points in the runoff.
Georgia is one of only nine states with partisan primary runoffs.
Jones was endorsed by President Donald Trump, while Kemp on Sunday also endorsed Jones.
Jackson, however, had the power of the purse.
Jackson has now spent roughly $85 million of his own money on the campaign. Jackson commercials outflanked Jones commercials by a wide margin during the four weeks between the primary and the runoff.
Whether it was sporting events or The Price is Right, the Jackson commercials have been hard to miss. All totalled, the Jackson campaign has now spent more than $100 million, which already is a record for a Georgia gubernatorial race, and it’s only June.
In other words, prepare yourself for five more months of Rick Jackson commercials.
Jones was the candidate with Milledgeville connections. His family owns the JP Marathon convenience store and adjoining restaurant at the corner of Roberson Mill Road and Garrett Way. Baldwin County was the largest county in Jones’ district during his 10 years as a state senator. Milledgeville’s current state senator – Rick Williams – campaigned for Jones and was backing Jones.
Regardless, Jackson now moves on to face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election. Bottoms surprised some pundits in the primary, picking up 57 percent of the vote, in the process avoiding a runoff completely. Bottoms recently campaigned in Milledgeville and was shown around town by Mayor Mary Parham Copelan.
The bad news for Democrats is that every Georgia governor elected this century has been a Republican. The good news is that 57 percent of Georgia voters in the May primary chose a Democrat ballot, while 42 percent selected a Republican one. Compare these percentages to the 2022 primary, when they were basically flipped. Back in May 2022, 56.3 percent of primary voters chose a Republican ballot and 43.1 percent of voters a Democrat one.
In the 2002 general election, Kemp defeated Stacey Abrams 53.4 percent to 45.9 percent.
If history repeats itself, in terms of more ballots in May equalling victory in November, then this year’s general election could be good to Democrats in Georgia.