Lt. Gov. Burt Jones won Tuesday night’s Republican gubernatorial runoff in Coffee County but billionaire businessman Rick Jackson carried the state, setting up a November showdown with former one-term Atlanta mayor (and official in former President Joe Biden’s administration) Keisha Lance Bottoms.
The Republican race for the governor’s mansion has to be the most expensive in Georgia’s history. Between them, Jackson and Jones spent over $138 million during the primary with the overwhelming majority – an estimated $106 million, according to reports – coming from Jackson.
The governor’s job pays $182,000 per year.
Bottoms won the Democratic nomination last month, garnering 60 percent of the vote in a crowded field.
Local voters, however, chose Jones handily over Jackson. Jones won Coffee County 1,448 to 1,015. Statewide, Jackson won 373,396 to 335,836 – 53 percent to 47 percent.
In the Republican race for U.S. Senate, Coffee County followed the state, with Mike Collins easily defeating Derek Dooley. Collins won Coffee County 1,837 to 582. Overall, Collins won 389,983 to 312,206.
Here are how the other races on Coffee County’s ballot turned out:
- Lieutenant governor
- Republican: Greg Dolezal defeated John F. Kennedy 1,210-1,205. Overall, Dolezal won 374,839-316,764
- Democrat: Josh McLaurin defeated Nabilah Parkes 272-146. Overall, McLaurin won 210,519 to 173,125
- Secretary of State
- Republican: Tim Fleming defeated Vernon Jones 1,271 to 1,026. Overall, Fleming won 430,271 to 236,800.
- Democrat: Penny Brown Reynolds defeated Dana Barrett 255-168. Overall, Reynolds won 242,050 to 141,578
- Commissioner of Insurance (Democrat): DeAndre Mathis and Keisha Sean Waites tied with 209 votes each. Overall, Waites won 223,825 to 157,403
- State School Superintendent (Republican): Fred “Bubba” Longgrear defeated incumbent Richard Woods 1,195 to 1,153. Overall, Woods won 344,816 to 324,877
- Labor Commissioner (Democrat): Nikki Porcher defeated Michelle Sanchez 293-125. Overall, Porcher won 232,132 to 143,942
- Public Service Commission District 5 (Republican): Josh Tolbert defeated Bobby Mehan 1,176 to 997. Overall, Tolbert 371,396 to 250,114.
Locally, 2,902 voters cast ballots, a turnout of 12.07 percent. There are 24,038 registered voters in Coffee County.
