Georgia Republican primaries for governor and Senate head to June runoffs

The Republican primary for Georgia governor will be decided in a June runoff, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones facing healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a longtime political enemy of Donald Trump, finished a distant third.

The Republican contest to challenge U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff remains unresolved. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic primary for governor outright, avoiding a runoff.

Two Georgia Supreme Court justices retained their seats, defeating Democratic-backed challengers former state Sen. Jen Jordan and personal injury attorney Miracle Rankin in nonpartisan primaries.

Judicial elections in Georgia are nonpartisan and decided on primary ballots. No Democrat serves on the state Supreme Court due to historically lopsided Republican turnout. The court is weighing the constitutionality of a six-week abortion ban, adding significance to the race that saw unusually heavy advertising and online promotion.

The judicial contest sometimes overshadowed the race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Polling had suggested a runoff was likely in the Democratic field, with Bottoms, endorsed by Joe Biden, finishing first. But preliminary results from the Associated Press showed Bottoms with a wide lead shortly after polls closed, securing the Democratic nomination.

The Democratic primary remained relatively civil compared to the barrage of attack ads among Republicans. Jones, endorsed by Trump, and Jackson will continue their showdown, which has consumed nearly all available television advertising inventory in Georgia.

Jackson, a political newcomer previously unknown in the state, upended the race by pouring nearly $50 million of his own money into campaign ads. Republican candidates spent more than $100 million in total, according to tracking figures from AdImpact.

Georgia, a long-time Republican stronghold, has emerged as a key swing state. It narrowly voted for Joe Biden in 2020, and Democrats hold both U.S. Senate seats. The open governor’s race is considered one of the most competitive in the nation.

Ossoff, facing no Democratic primary challenger, has more than $30 million heading into the November election. Rep. Mike Collins emerged from a crowded Republican field Tuesday as the top vote-getter to challenge Ossoff. He will face former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley in the June 16 runoff.