Full Breakdown
Georgia Gubernatorial Race Seen as Tied as Election Day Nears
By Drooid · · How we work
Race Tied, According to Senate Leader
Sen. Ted Cruz, speaking at a rally in Henry County, told supporters that the contest between Republican nominee Rick Jackson and Democratic mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is “basically tied.” Former Gov. Sonny Perdue added that without a surge in Republican turnout, the Democrats would win. The remarks were made with ten days left before the November 3 election, underscoring GOP anxiety about early-voting participation.
Poll Numbers, Voter Enthusiasm, and Campaign Spending
The latest AJC/University of Georgia poll, begun on Oct. 7, shows Jackson at 46 % and Bottoms at 45 %. Among Republicans, Jackson enjoys 94 % support and 66 % of white voters, while Bottoms commands 93 % of Democrats and 88 % of Black voters. Independents lean 43 % to 38 % for Bottoms, with 18 % undecided—the highest indecision rate of any subgroup. Enthusiasm gaps are stark: 68 % of Democrats say they are highly motivated, compared with 48 % of Republicans. Jackson has spent upward of $200 million since his February entry, including a $50 million opening advertising blitz, making his campaign the most expensive self-funded gubernatorial effort in Georgia history.
Campaign Strategies and Endorsements
Jackson reversed an earlier decision to skip a Trump rally, opting to appear at President Trump’s event in Perry and a separate gathering with outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp in Cherokee County on the same day. The dual appearance aims to draw turnout from both Trump’s base (41 % approval in Georgia) and Kemp’s supporters (about 70 % approval). Gov. Burt Jones. Bottoms has consistently linked Jackson to the White House, portraying him as an extension of the federal administration.
Impact and Upcoming Milestones
Republicans have held the governor’s mansion since 2003, while Democrats seek to elect the nation’s first Black woman governor. Early voting ends on Oct. 30, after which the final push will focus on mobilizing supporters before Election Day on Nov. 3. The tight race and divergent voter enthusiasm suggest that turnout, rather than spending, will likely determine the outcome.