Georgia's Republican gubernatorial primary is headed to a runoff next month after no candidate secured a majority of the vote.

• The winner of the runoff will face Keisha Lance Bottoms, who clinched the Democratic nomination with 57% of the vote.

Why it matters: Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, so Georgia voters will elect a new governor this year.

The latest: Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson both advanced to the runoff, receiving about 39% and 33% of the vote, respectively, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's elections hub.

Zoom in: Coming in second on the Democratic side was Jason Esteves, followed by Mike Thurmond, Geoff Duncan, Derrick Jackson, Amanda Duffy and Olu Brown.

• For the Republicans, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, Clark Dean, Gregg Kirkpatrick, Ken Yasger and Thomas Williams did not receive enough votes to make it to the runoff.

Catch up quick: The Republican primary was essentially a three-way race between Jones, Carr and Raffensperger until Jackson's late entrance.

• While Jones was endorsed by President Trump, polling suggests Jackson's advertising spending spree helped him turn the heads of primary voters.
• It also didn't hurt that he donated $1 million to the president's political operations, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports.

On the Democratic side, Bottoms' name recognition as Atlanta's former mayor earned her top polling numbers.

• Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor who notably rebuked Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and later switched parties, also gained support from some Democrats and left-leaning activists.

What we're watching: If Kemp, who hasn't endorsed, will throw his support behind either Jones or Jackson — or wait until the dust settles to back whoever wins the runoff.

Republicans U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and Derek Dooley will compete in a June 16 runoff to decide who will face Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) this November.

Why it matters: The race was one of the rare major GOP contests without a Trump endorsement, and Republicans see Ossoff's seat as one of their best pickup opportunities to maintain their majority.

Catch up quick: Reps. Collins and Buddy Carter, who represent districts east of Atlanta and the Georgia coast, respectively, openly competed for the MAGA vote in ads and appearances.

• Meanwhile, Dooley, a former college football coach — and an "outsider" backed by the outgoing and well-liked Gov. Brian Kemp (R) — promised to "work with President Trump, but for you."

Zoom out: Georgia Democrats' recent statewide wins have buoyed hopes of a blue wave, even at the Republican-controlled state Capitol.

• Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state that Trump won in 2024, AP notes.

Here's what happened in Tuesday's down-ballot races:

🧑‍⚖️ Judicial races: Former Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan's and plaintiff attorney Miracle Rankin's efforts to oust Republican-backed Georgia Supreme Court Justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren failed.

• Trump election interference case prosecutor Will Wooten also lost his bid to unseat Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Trenton Brown. Brown was part of the appellate panel that disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

⚖️ Attorney General: State Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) defeated state Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) in the Republican primary to become Georgia's top lawyer.

• Strickland will face state Rep. Tanya Miller, who won the Democratic primary against Bob Trammell, a lawyer and former Georgia House minority leader, in November.

🥈 Lieutenant governor: Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs and former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes of Duluth advanced to the June 16 runoff.

• John Kennedy, a former state Senator, and state Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) appear to be headed for a runoff for the Republican nomination.

🗳️ Secretary of State: State Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington) and former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones advanced to a runoff.

• Penny Brown Reynolds, a former state court judge and reality court show star, will face Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett for the Democratic nomination.

🏛️ Fulton County Chairman: Former Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory won more votes than incumbent Robb Pitts but failed to win a majority, triggering a runoff.

One sign that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here: The logo on Mercedes-Benz Stadium is now covered in preparation for Atlanta's matches.

Due to sponsorship rules, FIFA has temporarily changed the names of stadiums during the tournament. So, Merdeces-Benz will be referred to as the Atlanta Stadium.

🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Enjoy Six Flags Over Georgia and Hurricane Harbor Water Park during Memorial Day Weekend: Save up to 50% on tickets, passes and more during the Memorial Day sale!

👀 Drivers around metro Atlanta said they were issued tickets for speeding in a school zone outside of designated hours. (WSB)

⚖️ Two former DeKalb County School District employees are suing the system over alleged breaches of contracts after they were demoted and suspended. (AJC)

🍽️ A fire at a Chamblee apartment complex that displaced more than 70 people has also forced The Alden and other restaurants in the same building to close indefinitely. (Rough Draft)