Attorney General Carr Endorses Rick Jackson in Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Runoff
Georgia’s attorney general throws support behind healthcare executive Rick Jackson ahead of the June 16 GOP gubernatorial runoff against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced his endorsement of healthcare executive Rick Jackson in the upcoming Republican gubernatorial runoff, supporting the businessman who finished second in last week’s primary election.
Jackson, who received about 33% of the vote in the May 21 primary, will face Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a June 16 runoff election. Jones came in first place with about 38% of the vote. The winner will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election.
Carr Cites Jackson’s Business Background
In a social media post announcing his endorsement, Carr said that Jackson “will build on Brian Kemp’s legacy.” Governor Kemp, who is term-limited and finishing his final year in office, has not endorsed a candidate in the race.
“Rick Jackson is an outsider businessman, a man of deep faith and integrity who will do what’s right for the people of Georgia,” Carr said in a press release. “He has law enforcement’s back, will crack down on crime and corruption, and cut taxes.”
Carr finished fourth in the Republican primary with about 12% of the vote, ending his gubernatorial campaign after serving as attorney general since 2016. Throughout his campaign, Carr had positioned himself as a Kemp-style Republican.
Jackson Welcomes Support
Jackson expressed appreciation for the endorsement from the state’s top law enforcement official. “Attorney General Carr has been a principled leader for Georgia, and his support means a great deal to me,” Jackson said in a statement.
“No one understands Georgia government and what our state needs to continue moving forward better than Attorney General Chris Carr,” Jackson added in the press release.
The endorsement gives Jackson additional backing from the Republican establishment as he seeks to close the gap with Jones heading into the runoff. Jackson’s campaign has emphasized his background as a wealthy healthcare executive and political outsider.
The June 16 runoff will determine which candidate advances to face Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor who secured the Democratic nomination. The general election is scheduled for November.
