(The Center Square) – Minutes after Rick Jackson defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary runoff on Tuesday, he turned his attention to his Democratic opponent in the race.
“Keisha Lance Bottoms represents the failed past. We represent Georgia’s future,” Jackson said of the former Atlanta mayor who secured the Democratic nomination in May. “She wants to take the Atlanta City Hall agenda statewide. We will continue the foundation laid by Georgia’s Republican governors. She will make excuses. We will deliver results.”
Bottoms accused Jackson of being in the race for himself.
“Jackson has made more than a billion dollars off of a no-bid state contract for his healthcare company, but he opposes Medicaid expansion to lower the cost of healthcare,” Bottoms said in a statement. “Georgians deserve a governor who is focused on ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive and who will fight for them when Donald Trump’s reckless policies hurt Georgia – that’s what I will do as governor.”
Jackson led Jones from the beginning and was ahead by at least 20 points early in the evening. The last count had Jackson more than 37,000 votes ahead of Jones, according to results from the Secretary of State’s office.
Second-term Republican President Donald Trump had endorsed Jones. He said Jackson ran a great “Trump campaign” in a late-night social media post. The president said Jackson made a pitch to him during a visit on Saturday night.
“He won against a great guy, Burt Jones, who has a fantastic future,” Trump said.
The president also congratulated U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, whom he endorsed over the weekend. Trump predicted Collins to defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
“Nobody even knows who he is,” Trump wrote on social media.
Collins defeated Derek Dooley 56%-44%.
“Georgia, I’m honored to be your Republican nominee for the United States Senate,” Collins said on social media. “Now it’s time to get to work, defeat Jon Ossoff, and take this seat back for the people of this state.”
Tuesday’s runoff also decided who will be on the November ballot to succeed Jones as lieutenant governor. Republican Greg Dolezal defeated John F. Kennedy and will face Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin, who won over former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes.
State Rep. Tim Fleming defeated former state Rep. Vernon Jones in the Republican race for secretary of state. Penny Brown Reynolds defeated Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett in the Democratic contest to advance to November.
Republican State School Superintendent Richard Woods fended off a challenge from Fred “Bubba” Longgrear in a close race. He will go up against Democrat Lydia Catalina Powell in November.
Nikki Porcher won the Democratic primary for labor commissioner with 62% of the vote to Michelle Michi Sanchez’s 38%. Republican incumbent Bárbara Rivera Holmes had no primary opponent.
Republican Insurance Commissioner John King, who dropped his U.S. Senate bid, will face Democrat Keisha Sean Waites in November. Waites defeated DeAndre Mathis on Tuesday.
Republican Josh Tolbert will be on the November ballot for the Post 5 seat on the Public Service Commission after winning over Bobby Mehan. The November contest includes Democrat Sheila Edwards and Libertarian Thomas Blooming. Tricia Pridemore resigned the post to run for the 11th Congressional District seat. She lost in the primary to physician John Cowan and Rob Adkerson.
Cowan defeated Adkerson with 64% of the vote to Adkerson’s 35%. Adkerson was the chief of staff for the current U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who did not run again.
Amanda Howell defeated Joyce Marie Griggs in the Democratic runoff for the 1st Congressional District seat. She will face Republican Jack Kingston in November. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter announced he would not seek another term. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, a Republican, will face Democrat Tony Kozycki in November in the 7th Congressional District. Kozycki defeated Case Norton in the Democratic runoff on Tuesday.
Democrat Ceretta Smith bested Traci George in the contest in the 12th Congressional District. She will be running against Republican incumbent Rick Allen in November.