Billionaire businessman Rick Jackson won the Republican primary runoff in Georgia’s race for governor, defeating President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, according to NBC News. Jackson, a healthcare executive and first-time candidate who poured more than $100 million of his own money into his campaign, will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in the November general election in the battleground state.

Primary Runoff and Trump’s Influence

With most of the expected vote tallied, Jackson led Jones 53% to 47%. The contest, which went to a runoff after neither Jackson nor Jones won 50% of the vote in the May 19 primary, boiled down to a fierce battle for the MAGA base. For Jackson, that took on the form of comparing himself in ads and on the stump to Trump, painting himself as a political outsider — even though he didn’t have Trump’s official support. For Jones, that meant leaning heavily into highlighting Trump’s “complete and total endorsement.”

Trump first endorsed Jones in August and reiterated his support in tele-rallies and social media posts. However, according to Forbes, that support wasn’t enough to secure a victory. Jones is only the second Trump-backed candidate to lose a Republican primary for governor this election cycle. An eleventh-hour endorsement from outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp on Sunday night, days after early voting had closed, also failed to lift Jones to victory.

Personal Story and Campaign Spending

During his victory speech in Atlanta, Jackson leaned into his personal story, highlighting how he overcame fleeing abusive parents and living in the state build care system. “I know what it’s like to feel like nobody sees you, especially the elite and the powerful,” Jackson said. “When you grow up the way I did, you never forget where you came from.”

According to Forbes, Jackson is worth at least $1 billion and is a political newcomer who heads Jackson Healthcare, one of the largest private companies in the U.S. His campaign broke state spending records with over $100 million of his own money. In the May primary, Jones won 38% of the vote, while Jackson won 34%. The runoff was expected to be a close race, with Kalshi showing Jones with a 70% chance of winning shortly before polls closed.

Broader Implications and Other Candidates

The general election in Georgia is expected to be a close race, as Democrats have made inroads in the state in recent years, despite Georgia not having elected a Democrat for governor since 1998. Jackson will face Democratic nominee, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Trump’s influence was also being tested in other states. In Iowa, President Trump’s endorsement of Congressman Randy Feenstra failed to secure a victory. Feenstra lost his primary race for the Republican nomination for governor. Trump admitted he may have endorsed the wrong candidate, noting that the other person who won was “much more Trump.” In Ohio, billionaire and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy won the GOP gubernatorial primary and will face Democrat Amy Acton in the general election.