ATLANTA — Vernon Jones announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for Georgia governor, adding that he can "best serve the people of Georgia in the Congress of the United States." Jones posted the news on social media, tweeting a statement saying he will support former U.S. Senator David Perdue as he runs for governor.
The former Georgia state representative from DeKalb County gained notoriety as a Democrat who fiercely supported former President Donald Trump. Early on, Jones said he would run; in April 2021, Jones held a news conference to announce his candidacy.
The change comes, he said, after much prayer and consideration.
"I believe that strong conservative voices need to be heard as we lead America into the future," Jones said.
Jones stated Perdue is a "good man who loves our state."
"I'd like to thank the thousands of Georgians that welcomed me into their homes and communities. I would ask for their continued support as I seek to represent them in the United States Congress."
Georgia has two Congressional races with open seats, in the 6th District north of Atlanta, and the 10th District east of the metro area. Jones didn't announce which race he'd enter.
Jones' residence in the Lithonia area isn't in either district, but no law requires a member of Congress to reside in the district -- as long as the member lives in the state.
Perdue released a statement following Jones' announcement, calling him a "conservative patriot" who cares about the state.
"We need his voice and we need him in the fight. I'm proud to have his support of our Trump-endorsed campaign," Perdue said. "Conservatives are united and ready to beat Stacey Abrams. I appreciate Vernon's willingness to serve and look forward to working together to get big things done for Georgia."
Abrams, a Democrat, announced in December she would once again launch another gubernatorial campaign. She lost in 2018 against Gov. Brian Kemp. Their contest was one of the most narrowly decided races for governor that year and was dominated by allegations of voter suppression, which Kemp denied.
Kemp has also announced another bid for governor. Some of the others who have said they are running are Kandiss Taylor and Catherine Davis.