Georgia's Republican National Committee members signed a letter Monday waiving the party's neutrality rule in the state's gubernatorial primary, clearing the way for national Republican Party support of Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. The move follows President Donald Trump's August 2025 endorsement of Jones and comes as the May 19, 2026 primary field has expanded to include Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, and state Representative Derrick Jackson.
Josh McKoon, chair of the Georgia Republican Party, told Politico he signed the letter because Jones has Trump's endorsement. 'It was a no-brainer for me to sign the letter,' McKoon said. 'From my perspective, I was going to remove any barriers to working with the RNC from a candidate that the president has clearly signaled as the candidate he wants to be the next governor.' The RNC typically maintains neutrality in contested primaries unless state party leadership requests an exception.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump supporters argue the waiver reflects the former president's dominant influence over the Republican Party and validates Jones as the clear front-runner. Jones, who served as a fake Trump elector in 2020 and has positioned himself as a 'day one' supporter of Trump, has emphasized his alignment with the MAGA movement throughout his campaign.
The Burt Jones campaign released an ad highlighting that he is 'the only candidate in this race that has secured' Trump's endorsement. Jones stated in August 2025 when receiving the endorsement: 'I'm honored to have President Trump's complete and total endorsement in my race for Governor of Georgia.' Trump wrote on Truth Social that 'Burt has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation.'
Conservative activists view the RNC waiver as appropriate given Trump's early and decisive endorsement, arguing it prevents the party from wasting resources on a primary where the president has already made his preference clear. State GOP Chairman McKoon has emphasized that removing barriers to RNC coordination serves the party's broader interest in unifying behind Trump-backed candidates.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump supporters argue the waiver reflects the former president's dominant influence over the Republican Party and validates Jones as the clear front-runner. Jones, who served as a fake Trump elector in 2020 and has positioned himself as a 'day one' supporter of Trump, has emphasized his alignment with the MAGA movement throughout his campaign.
The Burt Jones campaign released an ad highlighting that he is 'the only candidate in this race that has secured' Trump's endorsement. Jones stated in August 2025 when receiving the endorsement: 'I'm honored to have President Trump's complete and total endorsement in my race for Governor of Georgia.' Trump wrote on Truth Social that 'Burt has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation.'
Conservative activists view the RNC waiver as appropriate given Trump's early and decisive endorsement, arguing it prevents the party from wasting resources on a primary where the president has already made his preference clear. State GOP Chairman McKoon has emphasized that removing barriers to RNC coordination serves the party's broader interest in unifying behind Trump-backed candidates.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats argue the RNC waiver demonstrates how Trump's control over the Republican Party undermines democratic primary processes and sidelines other qualified candidates. Following Trump's August endorsement, then-candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms released a statement saying: 'It's clear that Burt Jones is only interested in one thing: serving as a yes-man to Donald Trump. I'll put Georgians first, and I will never be afraid to stand up for our state. Georgians deserve a governor who will always put our state, not Donald Trump first.'
Progressive groups have criticized Jones for his role as a fake Trump elector in 2020 and argue the RNC waiver shows the party prioritizing loyalty to Trump over candidate qualifications or policy positions. A $5 million dark money campaign operating under the name 'Georgians for Integrity' has run television ads, mailers, and texts attacking Jones, claiming he has been 'using his office to enrich himself,' according to Associated Press reporting from December 2025.
Democratic strategists view the crowded Republican primary as potentially beneficial, arguing that a competitive race could drain resources and expose divisions within the Georgia GOP. They note that other Republican candidates like Raffensperger and Carr have significant statewide profiles and may contest Trump's attempt to anoint a preferred candidate months before the primary.
What the Numbers Show
The Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026. The field includes at least four major candidates: Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (Trump-endorsed), Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, and state Representative Derrick Jackson. Jackson's entry into the race on February 4, 2026 'rattled Georgia political leaders who assumed the field of candidates was largely set,' according to the Georgia Recorder.
Trump endorsed Jones on August 12, 2025, approximately nine months before the primary election. According to the Washington Examiner, Jones now faces 'not one but two conservatives also aligned with the GOP base' in addition to establishment-backed candidates. Raffensperger filed a federal lawsuit on December 8, 2025 challenging Georgia's 2021 campaign finance law, seeking to remove restrictions on self-funding his campaign.
Dark money group 'Georgians for Integrity' has spent approximately $5 million on advertising against Jones as of late December 2025, according to AP News. The source of this funding has not been publicly disclosed. Thirty-six states will elect governors in 2026, with Republicans holding a 26-24 advantage entering the cycle after Democrats flipped Virginia and held New Jersey in 2025.
The Bottom Line
The RNC neutrality waiver gives Jones access to national party resources and infrastructure months before the primary, potentially providing a significant advantage over rivals. However, the move also highlights tensions within the Georgia GOP between Trump loyalists and establishment figures like Raffensperger and Carr, who have maintained independent profiles despite Trump's influence.
The crowded primary field suggests Trump's endorsement alone may not clear the race, particularly with well-funded and well-known statewide officeholders competing. Raffensperger's legal challenge to campaign finance restrictions indicates he intends to use personal wealth to remain competitive, while the mystery $5 million attack campaign against Jones demonstrates that opposition exists even within conservative circles.
The May primary will test whether Trump's endorsement power extends to down-ballot races in contested primaries, or whether Georgia Republican voters will prioritize other factors like electability, policy positions, or statewide experience. The outcome could signal how much control Trump retains over Republican primaries as the 2026 midterms approach.