Georgia Democratic lawmaker who endorsed Trump abandons plans to resign
A day after announcing his resignation from the Georgia House, state Rep. Vernon Jones said he will serve the remainder of his term.
The Lithonia Democrat, who made national headlines last week when he endorsed Republican President Donald Trump's bid for re-election, said in a video posted Thursday on Twitter that he received an "overwhelming amount of support" from his constituents after announcing his plan to resign.
“That was emotional and that was motivational,” he said. “Because of what you did for me, I’m going to remain on the battlefield. I’m going to complete my term. I’m going to continue to put my country before my party. And I’m going to do everything I can to get Donald J. Trump elected.”
A polarizing figure in Georgia politics for years, Jones said he will not allow backlash from other members of the Democratic Party to "bully (him) into submission."
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Jones did, however, file paperwork to withdraw his candidacy for re-election, a spokesman said.
Jones was preparing for a Democratic primary rematch against Rhonda Taylor, a legal services staffer from Conyers, whom he defeated in 2016. There is no Republican on the ballot, making Taylor the presumptive representative in January.
About the Author
Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.
