Burt Jones: “November is going to be a challenge” for Republicans
In just the latest sign of deep Republican infighting, Burt Jones is refusing to endorse Rick Jackson’s campaign for governor and won’t commit to voting for him in November.
In a new interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia” podcast – his first interview since losing the run-off – Jones warned that “November is going to be a challenge” for Republicans with Jackson as the nominee.
Pointing to deep divisions coming out of the Republican primary, Jones shared his belief that Jackson has “alienated” longtime Republican leaders, driving down GOP turnout in the process.
Jones also revealed that he still has not heard from Jackson or his campaign, in what the AJC writes is the “clearest sign yet that the Republican Party has not yet moved beyond a costly and bruising contest dominated by tens of millions of dollars in attack ads, dueling accusations of corruption and a proxy fight over the party’s direction.”
Jones’ eye-catching interview is just the latest blow for Jackson, with the AJC reporting that many GOP leaders and activists remain “openly skeptical” about Jackson’s candidacy, especially after Jackson ducked the Georgia Republicans’ 250 Unity Rodeo.
The AJC has also previously reported on how allegations of corruption and self-enrichment will continue to weigh Jackson down throughout the general election.
Throughout the primary, Jones repeatedly hammered Jackson as a “fraud” who “[got] rich off a Medicare kickback scam targeting Georgia’s seniors.” Jones also took to the Senate floor in March to attack Jackson and his billion-dollar health care company, calling it the “culprit of our health care costs in this state more than tripling.”
Read more from the AJC, and listen to the full “Politically Georgia” podcast here.
Key excerpts:
- “Lt. Gov. Burt Jones still isn’t ready to rally behind billionaire Rick Jackson’s bid for governor.”
- “‘We’ll see,’ Jones told the “Politically Georgia” podcast when asked whether he planned to vote for Jackson. ‘Obviously, I’m interested in supporting and keeping Georgia Republican-run and keeping it red. And I think November is going to be a challenge.’”
- “The remarkable answer underscored the fallout from one of the most vicious Republican primaries in recent Georgia history and raised fresh questions about whether Jackson can reunite the party ahead of a difficult November matchup against Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms.”
- “Jones said he remains committed to keeping Georgia under Republican control. But he said Jackson and his allies ‘alienated’ grassroots activists and other longtime GOP loyalists with a torrent of negative advertising that he says portrayed much of the GOP establishment as corrupt.”
- “‘You’ve got to think about those people who have been in the trenches for you working for the Republican Party,” he said. “You basically alienate them by saying we’ve all been a bunch of crooks.’”
- “Jones’ comments offered the clearest sign yet that the Republican Party has not yet moved beyond a costly and bruising contest dominated by tens of millions of dollars in attack ads, dueling accusations of corruption and a proxy fight over the party’s direction.”
- “He said he has not spoken with Jackson since the runoff and that no one from Jackson’s camp has contacted him to seek his endorsement. Jones said he hasn’t been asked to endorse, nor has he spoken to him since his defeat.”
- “Still, Jones repeatedly returned to the scars of a campaign that turned unusually personal. Jackson and Jones both have defamation lawsuits pending against each other. And Jones backed a bill in the state Legislature that would have made it difficult for Jackson to stay in the race.”
- “Part of Jones’ frustration centered on Georgians for Integrity, a secretive group that spent roughly $20 million attacking Jones, much of it before Jackson entered the race. Jackson has said he wasn’t behind the group, though Jones again rejected that denial.”
- “‘That was the Jackson campaign,’ Jones said. ‘I mean, that was his affiliate. I don’t care what anybody says, that was his money.’”
- “His warning comes as Republicans prepare for a challenging midterm election without Gov. Brian Kemp atop the ballot and with Democrats optimistic about electing U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff to a second term and winning the governor’s race for the first time since 1998.”
- “Jones said he is willing to campaign for Mike Collins, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee, and Greg Dolezal, the party’s pick for lieutenant governor. He also said several Republican allies have already sought his help. Jackson is not among them.”
- “‘Nobody’s reached out,’ Jones said. ‘I haven’t heard anything from that camp.’”
###