Vernon Jones, a black former Democrat and supporter of President Trump, will challenge Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2022.
Jones made a press announcement on social media saying, “The time has come. Georgia is ready.”
The pro-Trump Republican will hold a press conference on Friday.
His announcement points to a “battle” to determine the future of Georgia and America along with “our great experiment known as Democracy.”
The words seem to indicate Jones will try to harness the anger of Trump supporters who disdain Kemp for not taking further steps to ensure election integrity in 2020.
The time has come. Georgia is ready! pic.twitter.com/ClIcnF6JtI
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 15, 2021
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Vernon Jones Will Challenge Kemp For Governor of Georgia
Jones, a former state representative in Georgia, rose to prominence for denouncing the Democrat Party – his party at the time – during the Trump administration.
“I am no longer a Democrat,” he said in an op-ed. “I cannot stand for the defunding of the police, higher taxes on working families, and job-killing socialist policies that will devastate Americans of all walks of life.”
Jones accused his former party of dragging Americans down through “a false narrative based on race-baiting, identity politics, and widespread propaganda fed to the masses.”
As a lifelong Democrat and black man, it pains me to admit this.
But I’ve come to a realization: the Democrat Party doesn’t give a damn about us.
They’ve become more concerned about putting illegals first and Americans last. pic.twitter.com/slIYNvaqTk
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) May 1, 2020
And while Jones was coming to the defense of Donald Trump time and again, Kemp frequently found himself in the crosshairs of the former President for refusing to challenge vote results in Georgia.
Trump said that he was “ashamed” for endorsing Kemp to be governor of Georgia in 2018 and referred to him as a “fool” and a “clown.”
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Trump has kept up his criticism of Brian Kemp, blasting him over the recent Georgia voting law which he believes didn’t go far enough.
The law has been derided by critics as voter suppression.
“Georgia’s election reform law is far too weak and soft to ensure real ballot integrity!”
“Too bad the desperately needed election reforms in Georgia didn’t go further, as their originally approved Bill did, but the Governor and Lt. Governor would not go for it,” he said in a statement.
Vernon Jones @RepVernonJones , a Pro-Trump Republican, Will Challenge @BrianKempGA in #Georgia – The New York Times https://t.co/iyJj88GDOS
— Bernard B. Kerik (@BernardKerik) April 16, 2021
And Jones, by contrast, has been willing to argue for election integrity.
In February, he shared the dissent of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who argued the Court’s decision not to hear a challenge to Pennsylvania mail-in voting procedures invited an “erosion of voter confidence.”
“I respectfully ‘dissent’ with [Thomas],” he tweeted. “No justice; no peace!”
I respectfully “dissent” with @clarencethomas! No justice; no peace! @scotus pic.twitter.com/H1gbIhX4Is
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) February 22, 2021
Jones may very well end up getting a big assist from Trump on the campaign trail.
“I’ll be here in a year in a half campaigning against your governor,” the former President said at a rally for former Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue last year.
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