Trump Endorses Rick Jackson for Georgia Governor After Primary Upset

Trump throws his full backing behind Georgia businessman Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee who defeated Trump-endorsed Burt Jones in a June runoff, urging party unity ahead of November.

First Published: July 23, 2026, 3:37 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump endorsed Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee for Georgia governor, urging the party to unite behind the businessman ahead of the November general election.

Jackson, founder and chief executive of Jackson Healthcare, a privately held Alpharetta staffing company reporting more than $3 billion in annual revenue, won the GOP nomination despite Trump having backed a rival, according to wikipedia.org. Trump praised Jackson as a proven entrepreneur who would cut taxes, secure the border and protect gun rights.

Here is the full post on Truth Social: “Rick Jackson, from the Great State of Georgia, very successfully campaigned for Governor, on being strong with “TRUMP,” and won, against a field of very talented and popular opponents, including an incredible guy, Burt Jones, who has a truly bright future ahead of him! Rick has been a very successful Businessman and Entrepreneur, and will now be a tremendous Governor, who will work tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Keep our Border SECURE, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Safeguard our Elections, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Now is the time for all Republicans to unite behind Rick to ensure he has a tremendous Victory in November! Rick will work closely with me to enact America First Policies. He is a FANTASTIC person who everyone is very proud of, as am I. Rick Jackson has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Georgia – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” on July 23, 2026 at 7:23 PM ET.

This is the first message released by Trump today. On average, Trump produces about 15 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 89 of his 470 posts over the last 30 days focused on elections.

The endorsement marks a notable reversal. Burt Jones, the sitting lieutenant governor of Georgia, had carried Trump’s backing during the primary, alongside support from Governor Brian Kemp. Jackson defeated Jones in a Republican runoff on June 16, 2026, after taking 32.5% of the vote in the May 19 primary, according to wikipedia.org. Trump’s new post seeks to bring the party’s factions together behind the winner.

The stakes run high for both men. Jackson, a self-funding candidate who has described a childhood in Midtown Atlanta marked by poverty and foster care, gained the nomination without Trump’s help and now wins his patronage. For Trump, the endorsement lets him claim credit for a contest his preferred candidate lost while binding a wealthy nominee to his America First agenda. Georgia voters gain a clearer signal of the national party’s alignment.

Jackson has staked his campaign on cutting taxes and shrinking regulation. He wants to freeze Georgia’s property tax and cut the state income tax in half, according to wikipedia.org. He gave $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC tied to Trump, in December 2025, according to wikipedia.org, and earlier wrote an op-ed urging more prescription drug manufacturing in the United States.

For the average Georgia resident, a Jackson victory could reshape state tax bills and regulatory policy. His pledge to halve the income tax and freeze property taxes would directly affect household budgets. His emphasis on domestic drug production speaks to supply concerns that surfaced during the pandemic.

Has this happened before? This has happened before. Trump has repeatedly endorsed candidates after his primary favorite fell short, folding former rivals into his coalition once the nomination is settled. The pattern lets him retain influence over statewide tickets even when his early picks lose.

The next decision rests with Georgia voters. Jackson will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election, according to wikipedia.org. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Georgia governor’s races have swung the national mood before, as happened when the state’s shifting politics drew presidential attention. In 2018, Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams by roughly 55,000 votes out of nearly 4 million cast, according to ballotpedia.org. Kemp went on to serve two terms and clashed publicly with Trump over the 2020 presidential count. That rift shaped Georgia Republican politics for years and left the party divided long after the count.