Georgia governor’s race splits after primary: Bottoms advances, GOP runoff set for June 16

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia’s race for governor split into two tracks after the primary, with Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms moving into the general election and Republicans headed to a June 16 runoff between Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rick Jackson.

Bottoms told Atlanta News First she planned to keep campaigning on what she called “kitchen table issues,” including expanding Medicaid, supporting small businesses, fully funding education, guaranteeing space for every child who wants pre-K and raising teacher pay.

“I’m grateful. Exhausted. It’s a long night, but I’m really grateful,” Bottoms said, thanking voters for “investing” in her campaign.

Bottoms said she saw energized Democratic turnout driven by concerns that stretch across the state — from the cost of living and lack of access to health care to education funding — and she said a recent state Supreme Court decision added “fuel to the fire.”

“It wasn’t a lot of noise and theatrics on our side, but people were committed to having their voices heard reflected through their votes,” Bottoms said, describing what her team called “quiet determination.”

She also said she expected attacks in the months ahead and framed her approach as staying focused. Bottoms pushed back on criticisms of her time as Atlanta mayor, saying she was not concerned and that “a lot of it’s false.”

On the Republican side, the governor’s race narrowed to Jones and Jackson, a billionaire health care executive who entered the race late and rapidly built name recognition through heavy advertising.

Jones accused Jackson of running a staged campaign and argued Republicans should not let money decide the nomination.

“That Hollywood production over there is nothing like the genuine article. I am the workhorse in this race,” Jones said Tuesday night.

Jones was not available for an interview on Wednesday, but Jackson leaned into an outsider message focused on affordability and taxes, saying he planned to spend the runoff period reaching voters who did not support him in the primary.

“We’re really looking forward to the next 28 days. It’s going to be a sprint,” Jackson said.

Jackson criticized what he called “the political class” and said he wanted to represent people who do not have lobbyists.

“My opponent represents the political class and I represent the forgotten class,” Jackson said.

Jackson also said he was willing to debate ahead of the runoff.

“I’m willing to debate any time,” he said.

Bottoms closed her interview by arguing that the issues she’s campaigning on are not limited to one party or one type of community.

“These are issues that everybody cares about, and everybody’s talking about,” she said.

With the June 16 Republican runoff approaching, the Jones and Jackson campaigns are expected to ramp up statewide outreach, advertising, and endorsement efforts. The winner will face Bottoms in November.