Cash Over Endorsements: Georgia Race Tests Trump’s Influence

Georgia’s Rick Jackson spent a record nearly $100 million to defeat Trump’s endorsed candidate Burt Jones in the GOP governor primary, showing that massive spending can outweigh a presidential endorsement and signaling limits to Trump’s sway even as he posts a string of wins elsewhere. The results were mixed across the map, with some Trump-backed candidates succeeding (e.g., Barry Moore in Alabama) and others faltering or heading to runoffs, underscoring a nuanced, not all-powerful, influence in 2026 primaries.