Rick Jackson beats Burt Jones in GOP Georgia gubernatorial runoff

The defeat dealt a significant blow to Trump in a key battleground state, with Jackson getting 52.6 percent of the vote and Jones getting 47.4 percent. At the same time, Trump-endorsed candidate Mike Collins was able to best the competition for the Senate race and will face incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff in November.

Governor Brian Kemp had endorsed Jones as well, but Jackson had amassed support from other influential figures in Georgia to go along with his massive spending on the campaign.

Jackson had built a coalition of his own influential backers both inside and outside the state. Attorney General Chris Carr, a onetime competitor, threw his weight behind Jackson's campaign shortly after finishing last in May's primary. Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida also endorsed him before the runoff, with Cruz going so far as to appear alongside Jackson at a rally the night before the vote.

Jackson's record-breaking spending dominated races in Georgia far beyond just the contest for governor. GOP strategists said his millions in ad spending were overwhelming, per Politico.

Come November, Jackson will be up against Democrat and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Jackson built his considerable wealth in the health care sector. His successful run for the Republican nomination marks his first-ever bid for elected office.

"When I announced my campaign, I said the political class protects itself….it’s a cartel and I said I’m coming to break it up. Well, tonight, we shattered it," Jackson said in his victory speech.

"I'm the only candidate who doesn't owe a thing to the political establishment," Jackson emphasized. "I can't be bought, and I'm not going to back down…. Tonight we did more than win a runoff. Tonight we proved that the people of Georgia are in charge."

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