Democratic Georgia State Representative Who Endorsed Trump Makes His Next Move

Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer during a rally in his 2020 re-election bid Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Last week, my RedState colleague Nick Arama reported on the story of Democratic Georgia state lawmaker Vernon Jones, who boldly declared via video that he was endorsing President Trump.

Lifelong Democrat Jones, who is African-American, also wanted to make it known in his announcement that he didn’t leave the Democratic party. “The Democratic party left me,” he stated, echoing the words of Ronald Reagan in 1962.

Explaining his endorsement of Trump, Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time that it boiled down to Trump’s support for HBCUs, his criminal justice reforms, and his handling of the economy:

“It’s very simple to me. President Trump’s handling of the economy, his support for historically black colleges and his criminal justice initiatives drew me to endorse his campaign,” Jones said. “This is not about switching parties.

There are a lot of African Americans who clearly see and appreciate he’s doing something that’s never been done before,” Jones added. “When you look at the unemployment rates among black Americans before the pandemic, they were at historic lows. That’s just a fact.”

Now a week later, Jones has announced he’s resigning from his seat in the Georgia House effective immediately, though he’s not leaving the Democratic party.

In a statement issued to local news outlets, Jones cited ongoing harassment from Democratic officials who were upset with his move. But he made clear that his resignation did not mean he was stepping away from politics:

“I’m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party. I take pride in being an independent thinker. My first amendment right to freedom of speech is under siege.

I intend to help the Democratic Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative. I endorsed the White guy (Donald J. Trump) that let Blacks out of jail, and they endorsed the White guy (Joe Biden) that put Blacks in jail.

Turn the lights off, I have left the plantation. Someone else can occupy that suite. Therefore, I intend not to complete my term effective April 22, 2020, but will remain woke and vigilant in educating and fighting for my people.”

This guy sounds absolutely fed up with Democrats, and considering how far to the left they’ve gone over the last decade or so it’s not hard to understand why.

It would not surprise me one bit to see him asked to give a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention in August similar to how the late U.S. Senator from Georgia Zell Miller spoke in support of President Bush’s re-election at the 2004 RNC.

For those who missed it last week, here’s Jones’ announcement of his Trump endorsement:

I’m a Georgia State Representative and lifelong Democrat. But in this election, I’ll be casting my vote for @realdonaldtrump.

I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Party left me. #MAGA #KAG #WalkAway pic.twitter.com/BUs4kRZ7JG

— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 15, 2020