Former Democrat With a 'Liberal, Corrupt Tenure' to Challenge Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

Reagan McCarthy | April 16, 2021 4:15 PM

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) officially received a primary challenger as of Friday morning, for his 2022 reelection. Former state legislator Vernon Jones, who was once a Democrat and is now an ally of former President Donald Trump, announced his intent to challenge Kemp.

I’m at Liberty Plaza outside the Georgia State Capitol, where former Democratic lawmaker-turned Trump supporter Vernon Jones is set to announce his GOP primary challenge to Gov. Brian Kemp.

There’s more media here than supporters and it’s... sparse. #gapol pic.twitter.com/JhJ1aAjVHA
— stephen fowler (@stphnfwlr) April 16, 2021

“On this historical day, I am planting my flag on the hallowed grounds of the Georgia state Capitol,” Jones said on Friday. “I am officially announcing my candidacy for governor of the great state of Georgia.”

Jones, hoping to rally Trump supporters, claimed that Kemp was “unwilling” to fight for election integrity. In reality, Kemp just signed a comprehensive voting reform bill that expands access to the ballot box while implementing regulations to ensure voter integrity. Republicans have overwhelmingly united behind Kemp's signing of common-sense voting reforms, and his refusal to bow to the woke corporate mob, but Jones chose not to.

Kemp’s campaign pointed to Jones’ “liberal, corrupt tenure in public life,” touting the governor’s conservative record.

“He is not a Republican and he is certainly not a conservative,” Kemp’s campaign manager, Bobby Saparow, told Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Assuming he actually stays in the race, we look forward to contrasting Governor Kemp’s successful conservative record with Vernon Jones’ liberal, corrupt tenure in public life.”