After losing his initial endorsee for the Georgia governor race, President Donald Trump shifted his support to Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee. Trump’s endorsement of Jackson came after Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones lost to Jackson in a Republican primary, which was a notable setback for a Trump-backed candidate in the current election cycle.
Trump commended Jackson for running a successful campaign, stating that he won against a highly regarded candidate, Burt Jones. Trump used Truth Social to express his support, describing Jackson as an effective businessman and entrepreneur while urging Republicans to support him in the upcoming November elections.
This endorsement highlights Trump’s strategy to consolidate Republican support behind Jackson in Georgia, a critical battleground state in the 2026 midterms. Jackson will compete against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed the outgoing Republican Governor Brian Kemp. The Bottoms campaign has yet to provide a comment regarding Trump’s endorsement.
Jackson expressed gratitude for Trump’s support on social media, stating his commitment to implementing business-like solutions in Georgia to reduce taxes, enhance education, ensure safety, and make the state more affordable.
“Just as you’ve brought business solutions to Washington, I’ll bring business solutions to Georgia,” Jackson stated.
Professor Robert Y. Shapiro from Columbia University noted that Trump prioritizes supporting Republicans against Democrats, especially in battleground states, to mobilize the Republican base.
Polling Insights
Recent polls indicate a competitive race in Georgia. An AARP survey shows Democrats with a slight edge, with Bottoms leading Jackson 48% to 46% among likely voters. Among voters aged 50 and over, Jackson leads 55% to 42%. The survey involved 1,060 participants and has a 3% margin of error.
A Wick Research poll last month gave Jackson a slight lead over Bottoms. Jackson received 43.2% support compared to Bottoms’ 42.7%, with 14.1% undecided. The margin of error was 2.9%, with 1,175 respondents.
A Fox News poll depicted Bottoms slightly ahead, holding 52% compared to Jackson’s 47%, with a 3% margin of error and 1,002 participants.
The Cook Political Report has categorized the race as a toss-up. Trump previously won Georgia in the 2024 presidential election with 50.7% of the vote.
Trump’s Influence and Endorsements
Trump’s endorsement of Jackson follows his support in Arizona, where his endorsees won key primaries. Representative Andy Biggs secured the gubernatorial nomination, while Jay Feely achieved victory in a congressional race. These successes reinforce Trump’s ongoing impact on Republican primaries.
In contrast, Trump’s backing of Jones in Georgia and Randy Feenstra in Iowa resulted in losses. However, Trump has sustained some Senate endorsement wins in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
Overall, Trump’s endorsements aim to unify Republicans while maintaining influence over key battleground states. Observers are keen to see if this influence translates into general election successes, especially among swing and independent voters.