Vernon Jones, a former Democratic state lawmaker who became a vocal ally to President Trump, announced Monday that he’s running for Georgia’s secretary of state.
Calling himself the “Black Donald Trump,” Jones previously ran for Congress in 2022 with Trump’s endorsement and has echoed his claims of 2020 election irregularities in Georgia. He referenced the security of U.S. elections in a released campaign video.
“Trust in our elections has been shaken,” Jones said. “Our elections must be secure. Our ballots must be protected.”
Current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, is running for governor in 2026, while his former deputy, Gabriel Sterling, has entered the race to succeed him. Both gained national attention for defending Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.
Jones ended his 2022 gubernatorial bid before losing the GOP congressional primary to Rep. Mike Collins, now seeking Trump’s backing to challenge Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff. A former Democratic state lawmaker, Jones switched parties in 2021 and gained prominence as an African American supporter of Trump’s reelection.
The secretary of state manages elections, corporate filings, and professional licenses. If elected, Jones said he would replace Georgia’s electronic voting with paper ballots, restrict mail-in voting, tighten voter ID rules, and reduce business regulations.
Joining Sterling in the race are Republicans state Rep. Tim Fleming and Kelvin King, both appealing to Trump-aligned voters who doubt Georgia’s election security. King’s wife, Janelle King, serves on the State Elections Board, which recently had several decisions overturned by the state Supreme Court. Fleming, who leads a committee reviewing Georgia’s election system, is a strong advocate for hand-marked paper ballots.
On the Democratic side, former Fulton County Judge Penny Brown Reynolds—who once appeared on reality TV—and newcomer Adrian Consonery Jr. are also running.
🚨 IT’S TIME — Vernon Jones is in! pic.twitter.com/FXRxKbxA2k
— Vernon Jones War Room (@VernonWarRoom) October 13, 2025
