Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for governor Tuesday afternoon, ending weeks of speculation and reshuffling a Republican primary that had been widely expected to be a smooth ride for the incumbent.
The endorsement came after a roughly 30-minute phone call between the two men, according to a Kemp senior adviser who confirmed the conversation to WACN 21.
What changed
Until last week, Jones’ path to the nomination looked nearly impossible. State Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming had been consolidating support from Kemp’s inner circle, and Attorney General Chris Carr had been quietly prepping for his own entry.
The endorsement collapses the field. Dolezal said Tuesday evening he would end his campaign and back Jones. Carr is now in the awkward position of deciding whether to run against a united establishment or sit out the cycle.
“The governor has been clear with the Lt. Governor that he wants continuity in the office. That’s what this is.”
— Kemp senior adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity
Why it matters
The Republican primary for Georgia governor had been viewed as a procedural formality — a path for the party establishment’s preferred successor. Jones’ entry, without Kemp’s blessing, would have turned it into a real three-way fight that risked bleeding the party heading into the general.
With Kemp’s endorsement, Jones becomes the establishment’s candidate, but he’s not without vulnerabilities:
- A 2020 election-fraud investigation — Jones was one of a handful of Republican officials who signed onto a letter urging then-Vice President Mike Pence to delay certification of the 2020 Electoral College results. He’s never publicly walked back that letter.
- A sparse legislative record — Jones has served as Lt. Governor since 2023 but has passed few signature pieces of legislation.
- No natural base — unlike Kemp, who spent years consolidating suburban Atlanta Republicans, Jones is strongest in rural south Georgia.
What’s next
Jones formally launches his campaign Saturday in Perry, in the heart of his political base. Kemp will appear alongside him — a heavy show of institutional support.
Democrats will meet in their primary next spring. State Sen. Nabilah Islam of Dunwoody and former Public Service Commissioner Erin Himes are the two declared candidates so far.
Marcus James covers Georgia state politics for WACN 21. Reach him at mjames@wacn21.com.
