Brian Kemp endorses Burt Jones for governor. The primary is suddenly up for grabs.

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0400

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.

Governor on WACN 21 News

Brian Kemp endorses Burt Jones for governor. The primary is suddenly up for grabs.

What changed