Trump, Obama Make Final Push in Georgia Primary as Early Voting Ends
President Trump doubles down on Lt. Gov. Burt Jones endorsement while Obama backs Supreme Court candidates as Georgia’s primary election enters final week.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — With just one week of early voting remaining before Georgia’s May 19 primary election, President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama are making final efforts to influence key races, including the closely contested Republican gubernatorial primary.
Trump reaffirmed his endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones during a tele-townhall Wednesday evening, as Jones remains virtually tied with wealthy healthcare executive Rick Jackson for the Republican nomination for governor. Obama issued a fresh endorsement for candidates in Georgia Supreme Court contests.
Governor’s Race Remains Deadlocked
A poll commissioned by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs showed a close race for first place in the GOP primary. The survey indicated that 30% of likely Republican voters remain undecided with voting underway.
During Wednesday’s call with supporters, Trump addressed what he called confusion about his endorsement. “There’s a lot of confusion” about who he endorsed, Trump said, as Jackson has been running a MAGA-style campaign since entering the race in February.
Trump emphasized that Jones has his “complete and total endorsement” and praised Jones’ early Trump endorsement and his fight “for election integrity in the state Senate when few others, frankly, would and should have.”
Runoffs Expected in Multiple Races
Campaign activity is intensifying as candidates work to secure enough support to win outright or advance to runoff elections. Political observers expect runoffs are likely in both the race to be Georgia’s next governor and the GOP primary to determine who will face U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November’s general election.
The heightened endorsement activity reflects the competitive nature of several contests on the May 19 ballot. With early voting concluding next week, campaigns are making final appeals to undecided voters across multiple high-profile races.
Jones, who has served as lieutenant governor, faces Jackson in what has become one of the most closely watched gubernatorial primaries in the state. Jackson entered the race relatively late but has mounted a significant challenge with his MAGA-aligned campaign messaging.
