"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. Jones, who has called himself the "Black Donald Trump," ran for Congress in 2022 with Trump's endorsement, bolstering the president's false claims that Georgia's 2020 election was stolen from him. "Trust in our elections has been shaken," Jones said in a video announcing his campaign for secretary of state."
"Current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, is running for governor in the 2026 election. One of Raffensperger's former top officials, Republican Gabriel Sterling, is also running to replace him. Both made names for themselves defending Georgia's presidential election results in 2020 after Trump called Raffensperger and asked him to "find" votes to overturn Democratic President Joe Biden's win in the state."
"Jones dropped out of the 2022 governor's race, then lost the Republican congressional primary that same year to U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is now vying for Trump's endorsement to try and unseat Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff. Before his loss to Collins, Jones served several terms in Georgia's state House before he became a Republican in January 2021 as his final term came to an end. Jones became a lauded voice in Republican circles as an African American who endorsed Trump's reelection campaign."
Vernon Jones, a former Democratic state representative who became a Republican in January 2021, is running for Georgia secretary of state and cites shaken trust in elections. Jones endorsed Donald Trump, ran for Congress in 2022 with Trump's backing, and amplified false claims about Georgia's 2020 results. Current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is running for governor, and candidates including Gabriel Sterling, Tim Fleming, Kelvin King, and Jones seek the office. Jones proposes paper ballots, limits on mail-in voting, tougher voter ID requirements, and cutting regulatory red tape for small businesses. The secretary of state oversees elections, corporate filings, and professional licenses.
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