Billionaire Rick Jackson Defeats Trump-Endorsed Burt Jones in Georgia Governor Primary

Billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson has officially won the Republican primary for Georgia governor.

He defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was endorsed by both President Trump and current Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

Here are the details:

Billionaire businessman Rick Jackson will win the Republican nomination for Georgia governor, CNN's Decision Desk projects. Jackson, a political newcomer who oversees a healthcare staffing company, plowed more than $100 million of his fortune into the contest to knock off Lt.… pic.twitter.com/SAk1TGybQj

— CNN (@CNN) June 17, 2026

It’s rare to see a Republican candidate who earned President Trump’s coveted endorsement lose.

But, the race has been called, with Rick Jackson securing 52.7% of the vote.

Here’s a look at the election results:

Rick Jackson framed himself as a businessman and outsider in politics, not unlike like President Trump.

While campaigning, he also leaned heavily into his backstory as a child growing up in poverty.

CBS News reported further on his campaign:

Rick Jackson, the billionaire healthcare executive who grew up in poverty and spent time in Atlanta’s public housing projects, has won the Republican runoff for Georgia governor, CBS News projects.

Jackson is projected to have defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to claim the GOP nomination on Tuesday.

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Jackson’s victory ends one of the most contentious Republican primary battles Georgia has seen in years, a race that produced two lawsuits, a defamation claim, and a mobile billboard circling metro Atlanta.

The self-described conservative outsider entered the race in February 2026 and quickly reshaped the contest, pledging up to $50 million of his own money to the campaign and spending more than any other candidate in the field. According to advertising intelligence company AdImpact, Jackson’s campaign and allied spending totaled more than $50 million on television ads alone heading into the runoff.

Jackson built his campaign around a compelling personal story: growing up in poverty, moving through five foster homes and 13 schools, and living in Atlanta’s Techwood Homes projects before building Jackson Healthcare into a company that operates in all 50 states, serves more than 20 million patients annually, and generates more than $3 billion in revenue.

Watch Rick Jackson’s campaign video here:

While he didn’t earn the endorsement of President Trump, Rick Jackson was endorsed by several other Republican politicians.

Per The Hill:

Jackson spent millions on his campaign and leaned on his personal background, noting his experience in foster care before becoming a successfull businessman. His win on Tuesday is a boon for Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.) as well as Carr, who all endorsed Jackson.

Donald Trump Jr. also put out a statement praising Jackson’s achievements:

Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor’s race tomorrow, we should be celebrate the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like @RickJacksonGA has. When China threatened our amoxicillin supply — Rick saved the last amoxicillin manufacturing facility in…

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 15, 2026

Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor’s race tomorrow, we should be celebrate the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like @RickJacksonGA has. When China threatened our amoxicillin supply — Rick saved the last amoxicillin manufacturing facility in America because he knows we can’t let China control our entire supply of anti-biotics. When the U.S. faced an oil refining shortage and the woke banks wouldn’t finance a new one — Rick stepped up again and became the largest outside investor.

This has been a hard-fought race with a lot of mudslinging, but I know Rick Jackson to be a good man – and that counts for a lot.

In a post on X, Rick Jackson celebrated his victory tonight:

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THANK YOU, GEORGIA!

I’m honored to be your Republican nominee for Governor. pic.twitter.com/DA6nYzBJEt

— Rick Jackson (@RickJacksonGA) June 17, 2026

Now, it’s up to Rick Jackson to win in November!

He will be facing off with Democrat candidate, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

NBC News has more:

Jackson’s race against Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta who also served in the Biden administration, will be one of the marquee governor’s races this fall. Even as Georgia has emerged as a key battleground in recent federal elections, the state’s voters last elected a Democratic governor in 1998.