Vernon Jones, a former Democratic state representative who switched parties in support of President Donald Trump, announced Monday he’s running to become Georgia’s top election official.
TL;DR
- Vernon Jones, a Trump supporter, is running for Georgia Secretary of State.
- Jones, a former Democrat, advocates for paper ballots and stricter voter ID.
- He aims to secure elections and protect ballots, echoing concerns about integrity.
- Other candidates include Gabriel Sterling, Tim Fleming, and Kelvin King.
Jones, who declared himself the “Black Donald Trump,” ran for Congress in 2022 with Trump's backing, reinforcing the president's untrue assertions that Georgia's 2020 election was taken from him.
“Trust in our elections has been shaken,” Jones said in a video announcing his campaign for secretary of state. He added, “Our elections must be secure. Our ballots must be protected.”
The current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for governor in the 2026 election. Gabriel Sterling, a former high-ranking official under Raffensperger and also a Republican, is likewise seeking to succeed him. Both individuals gained prominence defending Georgia’s presidential election results in 2020 following a call from Trump, who urged Raffensperger to “find” votes in an effort to reverse the victory of Democratic President Joe Biden in Georgia.
Jones dropped out in the 2022 gubernatorial contest, subsequently losing the Republican congressional primary that same year to U.S. Representative Mike Collins, who is presently seeking Trump's endorsement to challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.
Prior to his defeat by Collins, Jones had served multiple terms in Georgia's state House. He switched to the Republican party in January 2021, coinciding with the conclusion of his final term. Jones emerged as a respected figure within Republican circles, notably as an African American who supported Trump's reelection bid.
The secretary of state is responsible for state elections, corporate registrations, professional certifications, and other business operations.
Should he win, Jones stated his intention to advocate for paper ballots over Georgia's electronic voting, restrict absentee voting, and strengthen voter identification requirements. Additionally, he would aim to “cut red tape” for smaller enterprises.
Besides Sterling, Republican state Rep. Tim Fleming and Kelvin King are also in the race. Both Jones and King resonate with Trump supporters who doubt election integrity. King's spouse, Janelle King, sits on the State Elections Board, which took significant steps overturned by the state Supreme Court.
Fleming chairs a panel examining Georgia's electoral framework and is also a strong advocate for hand-marked paper ballots, a central request from activists wary of the state's voting equipment.
Adrian Consonery Jr., a lesser-known candidate, and a former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds who previously appeared on reality television, are both competing as Democrats.
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Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.