An expensive slugfest between two Republican candidates for governor fighting for the party’s nomination came to an end Tuesday night.
The Associated Press called the race for wealthy businessman Rick Jackson at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. Jackson defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to advance to November’s general election, when he will face former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Jones had been considered the frontrunner in the contest for the GOP nomination before Jackson upended the race in February with the surprise announcement that he was launching a campaign to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
Jones, who was the top vote-getter last month, was backed by President Donald Trump early in the race and very recently picked up Kemp’s endorsement. But Jackson had the backing of several high-profile establishment Georgia Republicans like his former rival in the race, Attorney General Chris Carr. Jackson also had the support of Insurance Commissioner John King and outgoing Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, as well as national Republicans like U.S. Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas.
Jackson mimicked Trump’s style in some ways, making a flashy entrance at his campaign launch by riding down a glass elevator and positioning himself as a political outsider. He also released an ad implying he had Kemp’s backing, which Kemp later denied.
The two candidates together spent over $138.6 million over the primary through the runoff period, according to campaign finance records leading up to Tuesday’s runoff election Jackson’s spending makes up about 78% of that, representing nearly $108 million in spending that came largely from contributions he personally made to his campaign. Conversely, Jones loaned his campaign just over $25 million and raised another $5 million.
Despite millions spent on ads, often attacking one another, Jones and Jackson had to face off in the June runoff after neither received over 50% of the vote in a crowded May’s primary election.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
