Georgia's Republican primary for governor is heading to a runoff between Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson after neither candidate secured enough votes to win outright in Tuesday's election. The runoff is scheduled for June 16.

The winner will aim to replace incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. The general election in November will determine the next governor of this key battleground state.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Jones last year, and Jones thanked Trump on Tuesday night. A victory for Jones would bolster Trump's influence in Georgia, where his record as a political kingmaker has been mixed.

Democrats are also selecting their nominee, hoping to win the governor's office for the first time since 1998. The Democratic field includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and others.

Separately, Democrat Jasmine Clark won her party's nomination to succeed the late Representative David Scott in Georgia's 13th Congressional District. Her campaign received over $2 million in outside spending from cryptocurrency-linked groups.

In the U.S. Senate race, two-term Representative Mike Collins advanced to the Republican runoff. Collins, a self-described "MAGA workhorse," has focused on immigration enforcement and aligned himself closely with Trump.

More than $125 million has been spent on advertising in the Republican gubernatorial primary, with over $66 million from Jackson's campaign alone. In contrast, Democratic candidates have spent only about $4 million.

Source: www.aljazeera.com