ATLANTA — State Senator David Jones and former U.S. Representative Sarah Jackson will face each other in a June 18 runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Georgia. Neither candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary, forcing a second contest that will shape the state's economic future. The race is a direct battle for control over state contracts, regulatory policy and the direction of Georgia's $32 billion annual budget.
Jones, a longtime state legislator, draws significant support from Georgia's established real estate and construction sectors. His campaign reported more than $1.5 million in contributions from these groups, according to state ethics filings. His platform emphasizes tax incentives for commercial development and large-scale infrastructure projects, aligning with major developers and engineering firms seeking lucrative state contracts. This approach would favor traditional industries and their lobbyists in Atlanta.
Jackson has built her financial backing from tech industry donors, manufacturing interests and smaller business associations. Her campaign finance reports show substantial donations from venture capital firms and manufacturing executives. She advocates for workforce training programs, reduced regulatory hurdles for new businesses and expanded tax credits for technology startups. Her victory would signal a shift in state priorities toward innovation and away from the old guard.
The runoff also tests President Trump's influence within Georgia's Republican apparatus. Trump endorsed Jackson in February, a move that boosted her primary performance by an estimated six percentage points, pushing her past a third candidate. A Jackson victory would solidify the president's power over Georgia's GOP, potentially redirecting state resources toward projects favored by his administration's national economic priorities, particularly in manufacturing.
The winner will steer Georgia's economic trajectory for the next four years, impacting everything from major port expansion projects to the state's growing film industry and its agricultural sector. Jones' administration would likely prioritize traditional development and existing corporate interests, while Jackson's would push for accelerated growth in tech and advanced manufacturing, creating clear winners and losers among the state's business lobbies and their political action committees.
