(The Center Square) – Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones officially threw his hat into the ring for governor on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with Attorney General Chris Carr.
Jones aligned himself with President Donald Trump in his campaign announcement.
“But just like President Trump, I won – and delivered for the people of Georgia, just like he is delivering for the American people in Washington,” Jones said in a social media post. “I don’t back down from tough fights – I step up to deliver results – and that’s exactly what I’ll continue doing as governor.”
Jones said he used his business experience in the private sector as a lawmaker.
“As lieutenant governor, I’ve fought to cut our state income tax, put billions of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking Georgians, expanded educational opportunities, protected girls’ sports, cracked down on illegal immigration, invested in rural Georgia, and delivered real results to make our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Jones said.
Carr announced his candidacy in November. He has raised more than $2.2 million, according to his latest campaign filing.
“As a proven conservative, building on the legacy of Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue, I’m running to create jobs for hardworking Georgians, keep our families and our neighborhoods safe, and vigorously defend our constitution and our freedoms,” Carr said in his announcement.
Jones officially filed his paperwork with the Georgia Campaign Finance System on Tuesday. He has a zero balance in his gubernatorial campaign but has more than $991,000 remaining in his lieutenant governor’s campaign account.
The winner of the Republican primary will face one of four Democrats currently in the race. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Olu Brown, founding pastor of Impact Church of Atlanta; state Sen. Jason Esteves; and state Rep. Derrick Jackson have officially announced they are in the race.
