Republican Burt Jones officially launches lieutenant governor campaign

The official rollout came days after Jones filed paperwork with the state declaring his intent to run for lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said this spring that he will not a seek a second term. For months Jones has hinted at launching his campaign, after first considering runs for the U.S. Senate or to challenge Gov. Brian Kemp in the Republican primary.

Jones, who has spent the past nine months questioning the results of Georgia’s presidential election in which his candidate, Donald Trump, lost but spouted conspiracy theories that the election was stolen, teased the announcement on Twitter on Monday by posting a video in which the former president thanks Jones “for everything (he’s) been doing.”

Though Trump hasn’t formally endorsed Jones, he earlier this summer ruled out supporting state Senate Pro Tem Butch Miller, a Republican also running for lieutenant governor. Trump called on “strong and effective” challengers to enter the Republican primary.

Miller has leaned on his close ties to the state’s GOP establishment, and his roots in the Republican stronghold of Gainesville, to secure broad financial support for his candidacy. He reported raising nearly $2 million in the five weeks after entering the race, a lofty sum for a down-ticket contest.

Republican activist Jeanne Seaver also announced her intent to run for the office earlier this year.

In his campaign launch video posted Tuesday, Jones said he plans to focus on cutting taxes, tackle violent crime, prioritize vocational and technical education, enforce immigration laws and restore voter confidence by “investigating any and all instances of voter fraud.”