Topline
Former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones (R) announced Monday he's dropping out of the race for Georgia governor, saying he will instead run for Congress, after former President Donald Trump reportedly offered to endorse Jones if he abandoned his bid for governor.
Key Facts
Jones, a strong Trump supporter and former Democrat, said in a statement he's now supporting former Sen. David Perdue (R) for governor, whom Trump has endorsed.
Trump met with Jones at Mar-a-Lago late last month and offered to give Jones his immediate endorsement if he dropped out of the governor's race and instead ran for Congress in either Georgia's 6th or 10th congressional district, according to CNN, which cited two unnamed sources.
Jones didn't say which district he plans to run in, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported he'll likely seek the open seat in the 10th district, a heavily GOP district containing Atlanta's eastern suburbs currently represented by Jody Hice, who is running for Georgia Secretary of State.
Crucial Quote
"After much prayer & consideration I have decided that I can best serve the people of Georgia in the Congress of the United States," Jones said. "Together as conservatives we will Take Georgia Back."
Surprising Fact
Jones indicated last week he planned to stay in the race, saying: "My priority is - and has been since Day One - is to do whatever it takes to defeat Brian Kemp."
Key Background
Jones' decision clears the field in the GOP primary to just two major candidates: Perdue and incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R). A Quinnipiac University poll last month found Kemp with a seven percentage point lead over Perdue, while Jones ran third with 10% support. His departure from the race could serve to solidify the anti-Kemp vote for Perdue, given he and Jones were both running on essentially the same platform. Kemp has faced repeated attacks from Trump for more than a year, after he refused Trump's calls to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election win in the state. The election will serve as a major test of the power of Trump's endorsement, since Kemp maintains a high approval rating among Georgia Republicans—70%, according to the Quinnipiac poll. The Republican primary will be held May 24.
What To Watch For
Whichever candidate wins the GOP primary will likely face off against Democrat Stacey Abrams in a hotly contested general election. The Quinnipiac poll showed Abrams tied with Perdue and trailing Kemp by two percentage points in a potential matchup. Election Day is set for November 8.
Further Reading
Trump-Chosen Perdue Enters Georgia Race—And The War Of Words Begins (Forbes)
Trump meddles in Georgia race to get candidate to back his 2020 falsehoods (CNN)
Vernon Jones Staying In Georgia Governor’s Race—But Trump Wants Him To Drop Out (Forbes)
75% Of Georgia Voters Aren't ‘Very Confident’ 2022 Election Will Be Fair, Poll Suggests (Forbes)
