ATLANTA — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones launched his long-anticipated campaign for Georgia governor on Tuesday, setting up a potentially fierce 2026 Republican primary battle that reflects broader divides within the party.
Jones, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, unveiled his campaign with a video touting his conservative credentials and loyalty to Trump’s “America First” agenda. A former state senator, Jones was one of Trump’s earliest campaign co-chairs in Georgia in 2015. His campaign promises include slashing taxes, cracking down on illegal immigration, and pushing back against Democratic priorities.
“What do I call all that we’ve accomplished together? Just a start,” Jones says in his launch video. “Because our work’s not done yet. And that’s why I’m running for governor.”
The timing of his announcement coincided with the disclosure that his leadership committee holds $14 million in available funds—a massive war chest that gives him a significant financial advantage. It’s unclear how much of that total came from personal loans, but Jones comes from a wealthy family with a history in the fuel business, suggesting he could self-finance a large portion of his campaign.
GOP field
Jones is now the second major Republican to enter the 2026 race, joining Attorney General Chris Carr, who announced his candidacy in November. Carr revealed Monday he raised another $1.25 million between Feb. 1 and June 30, bringing his total haul to over $3.5 million. He launched his campaign early to build financial momentum and guard against rivals with deep pockets.
In contrast to Jones, Carr has aligned closely with outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp and presents himself as a steady, establishment conservative. That alliance could prove a liability in a GOP primary where Trump-aligned voters remain highly influential. In 2022, Trump endorsed a primary challenger against Carr due to Carr’s refusal to support efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results—a move that could come back to haunt Carr if Trump throws his support behind Jones.
The 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Kemp is expected to grow more crowded. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has told reporters she is seriously considering a run, while Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger—another potential contender with statewide name recognition—is also weighing a bid.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates
On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and State Sen. Jason Esteves have emerged as early fundraisers, each bringing in about $1.1 million. Bottoms loaned her campaign $200,000, while Esteves relied almost entirely on donor contributions.
With more than a year to go before the primary, the race for governor is already shaping up to be one of Georgia’s most high-stakes political contests—one that will test the power of Trump’s influence, the strength of establishment Republicans, and the readiness of Democrats to reclaim the governor’s mansion for the first time since 1998.
