GOP's Jackson, Collins win runoffs for governor, Senate to face Bottoms and Ossoff in November

Rick Jackson will be the Republican nominee for governor, according to a race called by the Associated Press on Tuesday evening. 

Jackson, a billionaire and healthcare executive, defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a runoff election. Jones carried the endorsement of both President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, and Jackson branded himself as the political outsider in the race. He has also closely aligned himself with Trump, and vowed to be Trump’s “favorite governor.”

In his victory speech, Jackson promised to tackle education, unemployment and children's health. 

“This campaign was never about me,” Jackson told the crowd. “It was always been about the people of Georgia, especially those who feel unheard by the powerful.”

Jackson made waves when he first entered the gubernatorial race in January, and dropped tens of millions of dollars on television ads and mailers. Many of those ads were hit ads against Jones, who responded by also dropping millions of dollars on ads against Jackson. 

By the end of the race, Jackson had spent over $100 million on his campaign. 

Jackson will face Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on the ballot in November. 

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King, who has been a strong supporter of Jackson throughout his campaign, said the Republican Party needs a candidate like Jackson if they’re going to stand a chance against the Bottoms campaign. 

“The people are ready for an outsider,” King said. “This campaign is about not hating your opponent. We just think that Rick is better. But tomorrow, we will have to go and wrap our arms and unite, because Keisha is going to be formidable.”

Several other Georgia lawmakers and some constitutional officers also showed up at Jackson’s campaign party, a day before they’ll all be back under the state Capitol for the start of the special session. 

Earlier in the evening, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins became the Republican U.S. Senate nominee, according to the Associated Press on Tuesday evening. 

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Mike Collins won the GOP nomination for Senate in 2026.

Credit: GPB/Chase McGee

Collins has served in Congress since 2023, representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District which includes Athens. He has been an ally of President Donald Trump in Congress, and received a last-minute endorsement from him on Sunday. 

His opponent, former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, had the full backing of Gov. Brian Kemp, but failed to come out on top. The runoff tested the strength of Trump and Kemp’s endorsements.

Collins was the top vote-getter in the May 19 primary as well. He will face incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff on the ballot in November.