Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp formally endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on Sunday, injecting late momentum into a bruising Republican primary runoff race against businessman Rick Jackson ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Kemp, who had largely stayed neutral throughout the contest, praised Jones for his legislative record and their shared policy wins.
“Whether it was during his service in the state senate or as Lt. Governor, Burt Jones has been a strong, trusted ally,” Kemp said on social media. He cited Jones’s role in returning more than $9 billion in tax refunds to Georgia residents, raising pay and retirement benefits for state law enforcement, and passing tort reform legislation in 2025.
The endorsement follows a TV ad released June 2 by the Jackson campaign that clipped a Politico interview appearing to suggest Kemp’s sympathy toward Jackson. At the time, Kemp had not made a formal endorsement. Sunday’s announcement closed that door.
The Georgia lieutenant governor’s race has become one of the most expensive in state history. Jackson, who entered the race Feb. 3 and pledged to spend $50 million of his own money, has since poured $105 million into the campaign. Total advertising spending in the race surpassed $185.4 million, according to AdImpact data.
Jones entered the 2026 cycle as the clear frontrunner, but Jackson’s war chest transformed what appeared to be an easy path to the general election became a protracted battle fought across debates, courtrooms and the airwaves.
Despite the turbulence, both candidates share significant policy overlap. Jones and Jackson have each backed tax cuts, restrictions on abortion access and legislation barring transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Both men have aligned themselves closely with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
In the May 19 primary, Jones led with 38% of the vote. Jackson earned 32%, pulling roughly 303,000 votes, according to data from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Neither candidate cleared the majority threshold required to avoid a runoff.
The outcome of Tuesday’s runoff will determine the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor — a race that has drawn national attention and record spending. Kemp’s endorsement, arriving in the final days of the campaign, could prove decisive in a contest where the margin is expected to be tight.
“The hardest part about being governor is making decisions that aren’t always popular or easy,” Kemp said. “I’ve worked alongside Burt for nearly fifteen years and I’m confident that he will always put hardworking Georgians first.”
