President Donald Trump's endorsement power faced a new test Tuesday after his preferred candidate for Georgia governor lost a high-profile Republican runoff, even as several of his Senate-backed candidates secured key victories.
Jackson Upsets Jones In Georgia Runoff
Healthcare executive and billionaire Rick Jackson (R-Ga.) defeated Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-Ga.) by a single-digit margin in the Republican gubernatorial runoff, handing President Trump one of his most significant primary losses of the 2026 cycle, reported The Hill.
Jones had secured endorsements from both Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, but the backing of the two Republican heavyweights was not enough to overcome Jackson's self-funded campaign.
Jackson's victory marked just the second loss for a Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate this election cycle and underscored the growing role of wealthy self-funded candidates in major statewide races.
