A candidate closely aligned with President Donald Trump has lost Georgia's Republican gubernatorial runoff, according to a projection by CNN's Decision Desk, in a result that could signal growing tensions within the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Businessman Rick Jackson, a political newcomer who spent more than $100 million of his own fortune on the race, is projected to defeat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, one of Trump's most prominent allies in Georgia. Jackson will now face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.