Billionaire Rick Jackson secured a significant upset in the Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff held Tuesday, defeating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones despite Jones receiving endorsements from both Governor Brian Kemp and former President Donald Trump. Jackson captured approximately 53% of the vote, while Jones received 47%, according to projections called by major news organizations shortly after 9:45 p.m. Eastern.

The contest followed a May 19 primary in which Jones finished first, setting up the runoff against Jackson, who had led early polling and faced off against other candidates including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Jackson’s victory interrupts a strong streak of success for Trump-backed candidates this primary cycle. Trump had largely maintained a near-perfect record in Republican primary contests for House, Senate, and governor seats, suffering his first notable setback in Iowa just weeks earlier when his chosen candidate lost.

In Georgia, Trump’s influence extended across several races. While Trump and Kemp clashed publicly during the GOP Senate contest—Trump supporting Rep. Mike Collins and Kemp backing Derek Dooley—Collins ultimately prevailed. In the gubernatorial race, Trump endorsed Jones with glowing praise, highlighting Jones’s background as a businessman, former SEC Championship-winning football player, and characterizing him as a “WARRIOR” in a social media post last August. Kemp, who had maintained neutrality during most of the gubernatorial primary, gave a late endorsement to Jones ahead of the runoff.

Jackson’s campaign was notable not only for its upset win but also for the substantial financial resources deployed; he spent around $107 million in the primary race. His contest with Jones was marked by a debate boycott; Jackson declined to participate in a scheduled June 2 debate, allowing Jones to present unchallenged attacks. Jones publicly questioned Jackson regarding a past $750,000 settlement related to Medicare fraud allegations involving the Department of Justice.

With the GOP nomination secured, Jackson will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election. The race is seen as critical for Republicans aiming to maintain control of Georgia’s governorship. The outcome of Tuesday’s runoff may also signal evolving dynamics within the Georgia GOP and broader national Republican primaries, particularly regarding the influence of former President Trump’s endorsements moving forward.