Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest health care staffing firms, won the Republican nomination for governor in Georgia last night, beating the current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the primary runoff last night. The result concludes what has been described as the most expensive Republican gubernatorial primary in Georgia’s history and thrusts one of the industry’s most prominent figures onto a major national political stage. Jackson Healthcare, based in Alpharetta, GA, is an ASA member company.

Jackson secured 52.8% of the vote to Jones’ 47.3% with the vast majority of ballots counted. He will now take on former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election this November.

Given Georgia’s status as one of the true battle ground states in the country, this will be a tightly contested, and expensive race, with both national parties committed to spend whatever it takes to prevail. The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter designates this general election as a “Toss Up.”