Vernon Jones launches Georgia Secretary of State bid
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Vernon Jones, a former Democrat turned Republican who served several terms in the state House and DeKalb County CEO, is running for secretary of state.
Jones made the announced Monday morning on X, where he said he is running “because elections and business both depend on trust.”
“I’ll protect your vote, cut red tape for small businesses, and bring accountability back to government,” Jones said.
I’m running to be Georgia’s next Secretary of State — because elections and business both depend on trust. I’ll protect your vote, cut red tape for small businesses, and bring accountability back to government. Because Georgia deserves integrity — at every level.
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) October 13, 2025
JOIN THE FIGHT… pic.twitter.com/2voyBv0kwH
Jones served in the state House of Representative from 1993 to 2001 and again from 2017 to 2021. He was also DeKalb CEO from 2001 to 2009.
Jones began his political career as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 2021 after endorsing Donald Trump for re-election and speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
He has also made unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate and House, and DeKalb County sheriff.
Most recently, Jones lost to Mike Collins in 2022 in the Republican 10th congressional district primary. Jones had been endorsed by Trump who, at that time, was out of the White House.
Collins is now running for U.S. Senate, seeking to have a chance to square off against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in next year’s midterms.
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Current Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is running for governor in the Peach State’s crowded - and nationally watched - governor’s race next year.
Gabriel Sterling, the former chief operating officer for the secretary of state’s office, is one of the Republicans running to succeed Raffensperger. Others include Republicans Tim Fleming and Kelvin King, and Democrats Adrian Consonery Jr. and Penny Brown Reynolds.
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