Democrat Who Endorsed Trump Steps Down After Being ‘Harassed’ by Other Dems
Lawmaker crumbles after becoming the first state-elected Democrat to endorse Trump
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Democrat lawmaker Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones announced he was stepping down from office a week after he endorsed President Donald Trump for re-election, which sparked a spate of harassment and attacks from fellow Democrats.
Last week, State Rep. Vernon Jones became the first state-elected Democrat to endorse Trump, describing him as a "transformative figure."
Shortly after his announcement, Democratic leaders pledged to help unseat him from office.
Jones said at the time of his endorsement:
“A philosopher once said, ‘One courageous man in the crowd is a majority.’ I’ve got the courage to express my convictions.”
“I believe that Donald Trump is the best person to lead this country going forward.”
But the backlash from Democrats proved too much.
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Jones announced he was stepping down from his post as the representative for Georgia’s 91st House District.
Jones said in a statement released Wednesday:
“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,” Jones added.
“I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative.”
Jones endorsed Trump citing the President's support for historically black colleges and his criminal justice reform initiatives, saying the issue attracted him toward Trump’s campaign.
The lawmaker represents the overwhelmingly Democratic 91st House District in the Georgia General Assembly.
Jones had previously served as the CEO of DeKalb County, before serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001.
The Democrat’s brave endorsement did not go down well with his colleagues.
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Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikema Williams responded to Jone's endorsement of Trump in a prepared statement:
“Vernon Jones is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party and does not stand for our values.“
"He chose to stand with the racist president who has made an all-out assault on black Americans … during the most important election of our lifetimes.”
Fair Fight, a group launched by failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, announced it would support Jones’s Democratic primary challenger, Rhonda Taylor.
But the Gwinnett County Republican Party praised Jones’ endorsement:
“Rep. Jones may not be a Republican, but he clearly understands that we need President Trump in office for another four years,” they wrote.
Jones’s also suggested former Vice President Joe Biden enacted racist policies.
“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,” he said.
Jones' stated he wishes to hold Democrats "accountable to how they are treating black people (and) root out the bigotry.”
