OPINION: This article contains commentary which may reflect the author’s opinion
In Georgia’s 10th Congressional district, this past week’s primary election pitted Mike Collins against Vernon Jones.
Mike Collins is a trucking company owner who was endorsed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Collins is the son of a former congressman.
Vernon Jones is a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives and former Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia.
Jones, who formerly identified as a Democrat, broke party ranks to endorse Trump in the 2020 election and was a keynote speaker during the 2020 Republican National Convention, Conservative Brief continued.
Last week, Jones said that “throughout my political career, I have never been the Establishment’s favorite. That’s something to be proud of — not ashamed of — and is exactly why President Trump endorsed me. I’m not running for Congress to join the Establishment. I’m running for Congress to destroy it.”
Jones was responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp endorsing Collins in the race.
Former President Donald Trump, in a robocall recorded this week, praised Jones by telling voters “he will never let you down.”
“I’m proud to endorse Mike Collins,” Kemp said, highlighting that “as a conservative small businessman, Mike knows firsthand how the disastrous policies of the Biden administration are hurting hardworking Georgians and communities all across our state. Mike is strongly pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, and will fight hard to put Georgians first in Congress,” Conservative Brief reported.
“I will be casting my ballot for Mike Collins in the June 21st GOP runoff, and I ask fellow Republicans across the district to join me in sending a trusted conservative to Washington!” he added.
Earlier this year, Trump applauded Jones for being a strong supporter who stuck by him, wrote Conservative Brief.
“He’s an America-first fighter, who will never back down to the establishment or the radical left,” Trump said in the video.
“I’m proud to have President Trump’s endorsement, confidence, and support as I seek to represent the people of Georgia’s 10th Congressional District,” Jones said in a statement. “America First movement is alive and well! The squad better get ready!”
Trump slammed the Collins campaign for a recent attack on Jones, calling them “vicious political ads that aren’t true.”
Conservative Brief continued that General Michael Flynn endorsed Jones’ campaign earlier this year, saying: “The attacks by Mike Collins on the character of my friend Vernon Jones crossed the line. No true America First patriot would seek to sully the character of a good man by citing the Far Left Fake News media. Only a Democrat would. And it is for that reason that I am immediately withdrawing my endorsement of Mike Collins and joining President Trump in endorsing Vernon Jones to be the next Congressman for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Few have fought harder for the America First movement than he has, and he has my complete and total endorsement.”
Jones also received a glowing endorsement from the Atlanta Tea Party:
“Vernon Jones has my complete trust to keep his promises. Atlanta Tea Party proudly endorses Trump-endorsed Vernon Jones for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Mr. Jones did not become a Republican overnight. In 2003, there was speculation that Jones was going to switch to the Republican Party because of some of his views. His conservative leanings go back to 2000 when he voted for George W. Bush and then again in 2004.
Vernon Jones has touted himself as a conservative Democrat for years. Jones is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and was endorsed by the NRA in 2016 with an A rating. Jones co-sponsored legislation in 2020 to ban sanctuary cities. He strongly criticized the Bush amnesty immigration bill in 2008.
Vernon Jones endorsed Donald Trump in 2020 and became one of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters. Jones spoke out against election fraud and became a close ally of Donald Trump.
We think Vernon Jones is a strong, unabashed, conservative fighter and we trust the fact that he is pro-life, a defender of the 2nd Amendment, and believes in strong border security.
Jones has proven that he has a spine of steel and can defeat the RINO’s and the Democrats n in 2022. He will make a great congressman that will fight for America First values, without backing down.”
Now The Republican primary runoff for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District has been called.
Decision Desk HQ projects Mike Collins (@MikeCollinsGA) is the winner of the Republican nomination for U.S. House District 10 in Georgia.
Race call: 7:40pm EDT
Follow more results here: https://t.co/EH5fteVv1K
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 21, 2022
The Associated Press called the race at 7:53 p.m. ET.
As of 8:50 pm Tuesday, Collins was leading Jones 77.07% to 23.93%.
It is thought that Jones’ not-so-conservative track record as a previous Democrat contributed heavily to his loss against Collins.
Former President Trump had also endorsed former Sen. David Perdue in the Georgia primary race for governor, but Kemp reclaimed his nomination.
Hailing from Jackson, Georgia, Collins is the son of former Congressman and Georgia State Senator, the late Mac Collins.
Mike Collins will face either Jessica Fore or Tabitha Johnson-Green in the November election to represent the 10th congressional district.
Source: The Republic Brief