Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones says he won't be resigning after all. The Georgia lawmaker previously said on Wednesday that he'd be stepping down following a wave of backlash over his support for President Trump's reelection.
"Turn the lights off, I have left the plantation," the representative said in a statement on Wednesday. "Someone else can occupy that suite. Therefore, I intend not to complete my term effective April 22, 2020."
But on Thursday, Rep. Jones reversed course, citing an outpouring of support that was too great for the Democratic lawmaker to ignore.
Yesterday, I announced my intentions to resign from my office. But shortly thereafter, the outpour of support I received was too great for me to ignore.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 23, 2020
I will not allow the Democrats to bully me into submission. I will not let them win.
I will NOT resign. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/gR2MsU5Rb3
Earlier this month, the lifelong Democrat announced his support for President Trump and his intention to help re-elect Trump to a second term in November. The lawmaker pointed to Trump's record on criminal justice reform, low levels of unemployment in the African American community (pre-coronavirus), as well as Trump's support for historically black colleges and universities.
"I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left me," Rep. Jones said in a video posted to Twitter.
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I’m a Georgia State Representative and lifelong Democrat. But in this election, I’ll be casting my vote for @realdonaldtrump.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 15, 2020
I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Party left me. #MAGA #KAG #WalkAway pic.twitter.com/BUs4kRZ7JG
Party officials in the state are now lining up behind Jones' challenger in the June 9th Democratic primary. And Jones isn't the only state representative to buck the Democratic Party. Michigan State Rep. Karen Whitsett is now facing a censure after the black lawmaker credited her recovery from the coronavirus to President Trump and his support of the drug hydroxychloroquine.
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