by (Recorder of Georgia) President Donald Trump gave Lt. Gov. Burt Jones the support he sought in his 2026 gubernatorial campaign.
I wholeheartedly support Burt Jones for governor because he will never let you down! On Monday night, Trump made a post on his Truth Social platform.
In a post that included a photo of him standing next to a Trump who was giving him the thumbs up, Jones enjoyed the attention.
With Trump’s backing, we’re only beginning our fight for election integrity, tax reduction, and Georgia values. Jones’ post was read.
Jones was one of Trump’s most passionate supporters after his loss in 2020 and an early supporter of his first campaign in 2016.
Jones was one of 16 Republicans who signed certificates erroneously declaring Trump the victor in Georgia. Jones was a state senator at the time. In an effort to overturn the election results, he also pressured Governor Brian Kemp to convene a special legislative session.
A special prosecutor came to the conclusion last year that Jones shouldn’t face any charges.
Jones remained a Trump supporter, standing next to him at events in Georgia until the 2024 election.
Given how close the two men are, the endorsement is hardly surprising, but it might be a huge help in the Republican primary in May. Attorney General Chris Carr is the only other well-known Republican candidate that has been declared.
Approximately 85% of Georgia Republicans back Trump, according to an April Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, despite his declining popularity among independent voters.
Democrats, led by candidates like former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond, and state Senator Jason Esteves of Atlanta, are probably hoping that Jones’s embrace of Trump during the primary will cost him in a general election. The same AJC poll revealed that Trump’s overall approval rating in Georgia was a pitiful 43%, with the majority of those who disapproved identifying as independents, despite the impressive performance among GOP loyalists.
Bottoms attempted to portray Jones as a Trump sympathizer in a statement.
She claimed that it is obvious that Burt Jones is simply interested in being Donald Trump’s yes-man. I will prioritize Georgians, and I will never hesitate to defend our state.
Jones probably has a financial edge as well. Carr is accusing Jones of violating fundraising restrictions placed on other candidates by using a unique campaign financing structure known as a leadership committee.
Carr’s campaign, however, dismissed the endorsement.
In a statement released Monday evening, publicist Julia Mazzone said that Chris Carr was the only conservative Republican capable of winning both the primary and the general election. In his current role as Governor, the Attorney General will continue to collaborate with President Trump on matters that are important to hardworking Georgians.
After losing in 2020, Carr upset Trump by refusing to support attempts to rescind the election, but he has subsequently made an effort to win back the president’s favor.
Although a message from the big man hasn’t always ensured success, a Trump endorsement has been viewed as a Republican candidate’s route to success.
In 2022, Trump supported a number of primary candidates throughout Georgia, the majority of whom lost on election night. One such candidate was John Gordon, who faced Carr but lost by over 47% of the vote.
