Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff: Burt Jones focuses on policy ahead of vote

POOLER, Ga. (WTOC) - Republican voters in Georgia will decide next week who the party nominates to run for governor against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who received Donald Trump’s endorsement and was the lead vote-getter in the primary, said he is focusing on policy as the runoff approaches.

“Everybody’s tired of TV ads and mailers, I tell them all they’ve got to do is vote for me on the 16th and it’ll stop,” Jones said.

Jones faces billionaire businessman Rick Jackson in the runoff.

“I love getting this guy one-on-one I promise you that,” Jones said.

Campaign focuses on taxes, veterans, sports

Jones’ campaign has emphasized issues like cutting the state income tax, advocating for Georgia veterans and protecting girls sports.

Jones said most of the primary Republican candidates had similar messages.

“People need to decide who is the one who will be able to follow through with the promises they make and I have a record of doing that,” Jones said.

Jones said he wants to win over voters who supported candidates who did not make the runoff.

“Well look we want to expand the camp, obviously we’ve always said if we weren’t your first choice we want to be your second,” Jones said.

Jackson spent an unprecedented amount of his own money on television advertising since entering the race.

“It’s been very expensive, it’s been very ugly and you wouldn’t want it to be like that but when somebody doesn’t want to run on who they really are, they just want to sling mud and he so happens to have about 200-million dollars he’s using to try and trash me and my family and everything else,” Jones said.

Jones said he feels confident his record and time as lieutenant governor will be enough to advance.