Burt Jones and Rick Jackson are locked into a ferocious four-week battle – which is already being defined by scathing ads, debate debacles, and a whole lot of deeply personal attacks.
Whoever emerges from this GOP run-off will be badly bruised and limp into the general election against Keisha Lance Bottoms, who Georgia voters resoundingly selected as the Democratic nominee on Tuesday. And while Jones and Jackson fight each other non-stop, Keisha is focused on delivering for Georgians by lowering costs, expanding healthcare, and standing up for our state.
Here’s the latest on the this vicious GOP run-off for governor:
JONES AND JACKSON TRASH EACH OTHER ON PRIMARY NIGHT: Jones and Jackson focused their primary night speeches on attacking each other – all while Keisha Lance Bottoms focused her remarks on fighting for Georgians by lowering costs and expanding healthcare.
- In his remarks, Jones pummeled Jackson for spending over $100 million and coming in second place, saying that GOP voters “spoke loud and clear that Georgia is not for sale.”
- And in his remarks, Jackson hammered Jones for his record of self-enrichment, saying that Jones’ reasoning for running is so that he can “keep making money for his family” and that “Burt is a career politician desperate to cling to power, so he can profit off of it.”
JACKSON RAMPS UP AD WAR: As Jones and Jackson head into a bitter run-off, the ads wars are only getting more intense as the candidates slam each other for abusing their offices to enrich themselves.
- Jackson wasted no time Wednesday morning attacking Jones, releasing a new ad accusing Jones of letting “the government take Georgians’ land with eminent domain.”
- This new ad builds on months of attacks in which Jackson and Jones have accused each other of self-enrichment and self-dealing on the taxpayers’ dime.
JONES GOES AFTER JACKSON’S WEALTH: In a scathing new AJC exclusive, Jones went full throttle, attacking Jackson and his millions in spending in the Republican primary.
- Speaking with Greg Bluestein, Jones attacked Jackson’s second place finish despite greatly outspending him, saying: “If he wants to keep spending that money this recklessly, I’d hate to see what he’d do with the people’s money if he ever got elected.”
- And as Jackson and Jones continue to duke it out over who is more corrupt and extreme, the AJC reports that Jones is “ready for the fight to get uglier.”
DEBATE OVER DEBATES (AND OF COURSE IT INVOLVES TRUMP): Less than 24 hours into this vicious Republican run-off, Jones challenged Jackson to a debate. This comes after Jackson faced intense scrutiny following his disastrous performance in the first debate.
- Just like with virtually everything else in this race, they can’t agree on anything — including when or where to debate. Jones committed to a June 1 Atlanta Press Club debate, saying that he hopes Jackson doesn’t “hide from his record.”
- But Jackson said he’d rather do a June 14 debate with Gray TV in order to celebrate Trump’s birthday. It’s clear to everyone that Jones and Jackson are obsessed with Trump. On Thursday, the AJC’s Greg Bluestein wrote on social media: “In Georgia’s Republican race for governor, even a debate over debates goes back to Trump.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: With Jones and Jackson locked into a deeply personal run-off battle – and Democrats firmly united behind Keisha Lance Bottoms’ message of cutting costs and expanding healthcare – the AJC’s Greg Bluestein wrote on Thursday: “As Georgia Republicans are locked in a bruising and deeply expensive primary season, Democrats are trying to capitalize on something they suddenly have that the GOP doesn’t: unity and a head start.”
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