Trump's Primary Challenge
Tuesday Primaries: Can $100 Million Outspend Trump's Endorsement in Critical Republican Races?
Anonymous
Voters across Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, California, and Washington D.C. head to the polls Tuesday in primaries that will test one of politics' biggest questions: can $100 million beat a Trump endorsement? In Georgia's Republican governor runoff, self-funded billionaire Rick Jackson has spent more than $83 million trying to unseat Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — making it the clearest money-vs.-endorsement showdown of the 2026 cycle, according to The Columbian.
Final polling shows Jackson leading Jones by 3 points, within the margin of error, according to Newsweek. Trump held a tele-rally for Jones on June 11, calling Jackson's campaign an attempt to "buy" Georgia. The results tonight will signal whether Trump's voice still outweighs a billionaire's checkbook.
Georgia Runoff Pits Billionaire Spending Against Trump's Voice
Rick Jackson, CEO of Jackson Healthcare, has poured an estimated $100 million total into his Georgia governor bid. That dwarfs the spending of most modern gubernatorial campaigns. Jones pulled 38% in the initial May 19 primary versus Jackson's 32%, according to Ballotpedia. But Jackson's ad blitz in Atlanta's suburbs has closed the gap significantly heading into Tuesday.
Outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Jones on June 14, giving Trump's pick a last-minute boost from the state's most popular Republican, according to 13WMAZ. That matters because in 2022, Trump's pick David Perdue failed to beat Kemp. This time, the Kemp and Trump wings of the Georgia GOP are united — but Jackson's money has kept the race razor-close.
Alabama Senate Race: A MAGA Warrior Faces a Navy SEAL
In Alabama, Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Barry Moore back on January 17, giving him an early advantage in the open Senate race. Moore, a three-term congressman, has promised to be "a warrior for President Trump's 'America First' agenda" if elected, according to WTOK. He faces former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, who is running as a tactical outsider.
The winner of the Moore-Hudson runoff is the heavy favorite in the general election. A Moore win would hand Trump another reliable vote in the Senate heading into the 2027-2029 session, according to Alaska's News Source.
Oklahoma's Nine-Way Race Tests a Late Trump Endorsement
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is term-limited, leaving a wide-open field of nine Republican candidates. Trump stepped in late, endorsing state Sen. Mike Mazzei on May 29, according to AZ Family. The crowded field makes Mazzei's path harder — splitting the vote nine ways means the endorsement's raw power is diluted.
Oklahoma voters who didn't support any of the frontrunners in the first round will decide whether Trump's late entry is enough to propel Mazzei. It is another direct test of whether a presidential stamp of approval can substitute for months of ground-level organizing.
D.C. Democratic Socialist Leads First Open Mayoral Race in 12 Years
Washington D.C. hasn't had an open-seat mayoral primary in 12 years. D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, who calls herself a democratic socialist, leads rival Kenyan McDuffie by 11 points in the final Washington Post poll. Lewis George's platform centers on "Childcare for All" and a people-first approach rooted in the Bernie Sanders political tradition, according to WSMV.
The race carries a stark racial divide. Lewis George leads among white voters by 25 points, while McDuffie leads among Black voters by 5 points. A Lewis George victory could create friction with the Republican-controlled Congress, which holds oversight power over D.C.'s budget and laws, according to 21Alive News.
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