Controversial party-switching former Georgia lawmaker announces campaign for secretary of state

Monday, October 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM

Former Democratic state representative turned Trump supporter Vernon Jones has launched a bid for Georgia’s secretary of state. Jones is the fourth Republican candidate to declare a run to be the state’s top election official, joining state Rep. Tim Fleming; Kelvin King, a former candidate for U.S. Senate; and former state elections official Gabriel Sterling. […]

Georgia Secretary of State candidate Vernon Jones. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Former Democratic state representative turned Trump supporter Vernon Jones has launched a bid for Georgia’s secretary of state.

Jones is the fourth Republican candidate to declare a run to be the state’s top election official, joining state Rep. Tim Fleming; Kelvin King, a former candidate for U.S. Senate; and former state elections official Gabriel Sterling. A primary will be held in May 2026.

In his campaign announcement, Jones positioned himself as someone who is capable of “restoring faith in democracy,” arguing elections have been “shaken” for too long.

“We need a Secretary of State who will fight for paper ballots, limit mail-in voting, and enforce strong voter ID laws, because election integrity starts with common sense,” Jones said in his announcement video.

The Georgia Secretary of State oversees elections, grants business licenses and manages the state’s securities market. The office, currently held by Brad Raffensperger, gained attention after the 2020 election when Raffensperger, a Republican, refused to overturn the results despite pressure from President Donald Trump during his first run for a second term.

Jones touted his alliance with Trump in his Monday announcement, saying that he’ll stand “shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump in the fight for election integrity.” Jones said in a press release that he’ll “make Georgia the model for American First election integrity” as he campaigns across the state.

“I never wavered, and I never will. My loyalty is to the people of Georgia and to President Trump’s America First movement,” Jones said in a press release.

Jones stepped into the national spotlight in 2020 as an outspoken supporter of Trump, snagging a speaker slot at that year’s Republican National Convention. And the lifelong Democrat became a Republican darling among the Trump faithful after the former president demanded Gov. Brian Kemp resign for refusing to overturn his narrow 2020 Georgia election loss to President Joe Biden.

Jones launched a short-lived campaign for governor in 2022 before jumping in the race for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District with Trump’s endorsement. Jones finished second, losing to now-Congressman Mike Collins.

As CEO of DeKalb County, Jones faced allegations of misconduct toward women.

Penny Brown Reynolds, an ex-Biden administration appointee and former Fulton County state judge, and voting rights advocate Adrian Consonery Jr. are running for the Democratic ticket.

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