Rick Jackson holds a narrow lead in the Republican primary for Georgia governor as early voting concludes ahead of the May 19 contest, driven by his late February entry and record self-funding that has exceeded $50 million in total race spending. Recent polling averages show Jackson at roughly 28 percent to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones’s 25 percent, with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr trailing far behind. Jones benefits from an earlier endorsement by President Trump, yet Jackson’s business background and emphasis on an income tax cut have offset that advantage amid heavy mutual attack advertising and a lawsuit filed by Jackson’s campaign over campaign finance rules. The closely divided trader consensus reflects persistent undecided voters and the potential for late shifts in this high-spending contest.