Axios Atlanta

June 17, 2026
Happy Wednesday, dear readers. Let's start the day.
🌧️ Today's weather: Partly sunny with a chance of storms. Highs near 85 and lows around 72.
Situational awareness: State lawmakers gather at the Capitol today to begin a special legislative session to redraw political maps.
🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Atlanta member Bethany Cohen!
Today's newsletter is 1,038 words — a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Rick Jackson wins GOP governor runoff
Billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson, who entered the governor's race late and pledged loyalty to President Trump, won Tuesday's Republican primary runoff election.
Why it matters: Jackson, who failed to secure Trump's support over rival Burt Jones, will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Nov. 3 general election.
The latest: Jackson won the race with 52.7% of the vote, compared to Jones' 47.2%, according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State's Office.
- Jones got an early endorsement from Trump and over the weekend received a last-minute approval from Gov. Brian Kemp.
By the numbers: A little more than 488,000 people cast ballots in the runoff, according to the election hub.
- Unlike the May 19 primary, more Republican voters showed up to the polls to vote in the runoff than Democrats, according to the state election hub.
What they're saying: Jackson said on X that his campaign has grown "because it is built by hardworking Georgians who love this state, believe in its promise, and are ready to fight for its future."
- He also said Bottoms "wants to take the Atlanta City Hall agenda statewide."
- "We will continue the foundation laid by Georgia's Republican governors," he said. "She will make excuses. We will deliver results."
Zoom in: Jones, who conceded the race, said "the sun will come up tomorrow...there is life after politics," according to the AJC's Patricia Murphy.
The other side: Bottoms said in a statement that Jackson is "focused on enriching himself as Georgians are losing their health care coverage and are forced to pay soaring costs."
Catch up quick: Jackson, who spent more than $100 million of his own money on his campaign, shook up the Republican field when he announced his candidacy in early February.
- Roughly two months before, he sent a $1 million donation to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC with the hopes of catching Trump's eye, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports.
2. Collins wins Georgia GOP Senate runoff
Republican Rep. Mike Collins on Tuesday defeated Derek Dooley and will face off against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in November.
Why it matters: President Trump endorsed Collins after the May 19 primary. He now faces a well-funded Democratic incumbent who's won a statewide campaign in Georgia before.
- Republicans view the Georgia Democrat's seat as key to maintaining control of the U.S. Senate.
Zoom in: Collins won roughly 55% of the vote, according to preliminary results from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office.
- The AP called the race for Collins just after 8:30pm with 52% of the vote counted.
Between the lines: The runoff became one of the clearest tests yet of the competing arguments shaping the Republican Party in Georgia and nationally: embrace MAGA or pursue an alternative path to victory.
- Collins, a trucking company owner who represents a red district between Atlanta and Augusta, ran as a Trump loyalist who made immigration enforcement a central focus of his campaign.
- Kemp, a popular swing-state governor rounding out his second and final term in office, was a Dooley campaign trail fixture.
Follow the money: Collins raised $4.3 million up to the most recent disclosure deadline, according to Open Secrets.
- By comparison, Ossoff has raised more than $57 million and built one of the Senate's strongest campaign war chests.
What's next: The general election is Nov. 3.
3. Down-ballot election results roundup
Here are last night's other winners and losers:
Lieutenant governor: Republican Greg Dolezal won the primary against fellow challenger John F. Kennedy.
- He will take on Josh McLaurin, who won the Democratic runoff against challenger Nabilah Parkes.
Secretary of state: State Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington) won the Republican nomination, defeating former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones.
- Fleming faces Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds, who won her runoff against Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett.
Insurance commissioner: Former Atlanta City Council member Keisha Sean Waites won the Democratic primary runoff against DeAndre Mathis. She faces incumbent Republican John King in November.
State school superintendent: Incumbent Republican Richard Woods fought off a primary challenge from Fred "Bubba" Longgrear. Woods and Democrat Lydia Powell will be on the general election ballot.
Public Service Commission District 5: Josh Tolbert won the Republican runoff against Bobby Mehan. He goes toe-to-toe with Democrat Shelia Edwards in November.
Fulton chairman: Former Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory won a contentious race on the Democratic side to unseat incumbent Fulton Chairman Robb Pitts.
- Ivory will face Republican Eric J. Tatum in November.
What we're watching: If Trump will eventually turn his attention to the governor's race and endorse Jackson.
4. Food news: Shops of Dunwoody lands new dining
Life is about more than soccer. There's food and beer.
🍱 The Shops of Dunwoody is adding Tenku Sushi and Beyond Juicery + Eatery as part of a retail refresh by owner Asana Partners, which purchased the shopping center last year. (Urbanize)
⚽️ Summerhill becomes a FIFA 2026 World Cup watch-party hotbed starting on Thursday when Halfway Crooks shows the Czech Republic-South Africa match.
- Wood's Chapel BBQ will show the U.S.-Australia showdown on Friday. (AJC)
👎 Atlanta chefs and restaurants were, yet again, shut out from the James Beard Awards held Monday in Chicago. (Rough Draft)
🍗 Brookhaven-based Zaxby's has tapped a former Waffle House and Inspire Brands executive to lead the fried-chicken chain's national expansion. (Atlanta Business Chronicle🔒)
5. Five-ish Points: Redistricting fears
🗳️ Black lawmakers fear they will be drawn out of their seats as the Republican-led state Legislature begins a special session today to redraw political maps. (Georgia Recorder)
👀 Information on malpractice coverage and payouts by physicians is either missing or not right, according to an AJC analysis of the Georgia Composite Medical Board's website. (Go deeper)
⚖️ The U.S. District Court judge disciplined for having sex with a high-ranking police officer in her chambers has recused herself from the DOJ case seeking unredacted voter lists. (AP)
🏃🏽♀️➡️ Kristal really needs to lock in because she hasn't been training for the Peachtree Road Race.
🙌 Thomas is planning to keep it real today.
This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.
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