Georgia Picks Republican Nominees for Governor and Senate

Rick Jackson won the Republican nomination for Georgia governor on June 16, 2026. He defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a runoff, according to The New York Times.

Jackson works in health care. Neither he nor Jones had won enough votes in the May 19 primary to avoid a second round of voting. In a runoff, the top two candidates face off to determine the winner.

Jones entered the runoff with advantages. He was the sitting lieutenant governor — meaning he already held a state office — and he had the support of former President Donald Trump. Jackson won anyway, according to AP.

On the Senate side, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins defeated former football coach Derek Dooley to win the Republican nomination. Collins also had Trump's endorsement. He will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the November general election, according to Politico. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter was among the other candidates Collins beat in the May primary.

How Georgia's Runoff System Works

Georgia requires candidates to win an outright majority of votes — more than 50 percent — to win a party primary. When no candidate reaches that threshold in a crowded race, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff. This rule means Georgia often holds two rounds of voting in its most competitive races.

The governor's race followed that pattern. Many candidates split the May vote. Jackson and Jones advanced to the June runoff, where Jackson emerged the winner.

What Comes Next

The two races set Georgia's ballot for the November general election. Jackson will carry the Republican banner for governor. Collins will challenge Ossoff for Senate.

The Senate race figures to be closely watched. Ossoff was first elected in a special runoff in January 2021 that gave Democrats both of Georgia's Senate seats. Georgia remains competitive — neither party has locked it down — so this race could draw national attention and spending.

Jackson's victory over Jones stands out as the more surprising result. Beating a sitting lieutenant governor who had secured the party's top endorsement is not a common outcome in Georgia Republican politics. Both parties will study how Jackson won despite Jones's structural advantages to understand what the Georgia electorate wants heading into November.