Georgia's Surprising JFK: Republican Namesake Tops Primary, Heads to Runoff

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News (1 / 1) 21.05.2026 02:54 / Olga

A familiar name is turning heads in Georgia politics — but this John F. Kennedy is nothing like the Boston scion. The state senator topped a seven-way GOP primary for lieutenant governor and now faces a June runoff that could reshape the ticket. Read on to discover the full story!

A new Kennedy in the race

John Flanders Kennedy, born in 1965, finished first in the May 19 Republican primary and will meet fellow state senator Greg Dolezal in a June 16 runoff. The current lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, is instead running for governor, opening the contest.

Small-town roots, conservative pitch

Kennedy emphasizes his Adrian, Georgia upbringing and says his father was the local doctor. A Mercer University alumnus with undergraduate and law degrees, he has described himself as a lifelong conservative who was a Republican in high school during the 1980s.