On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) endorsed 10th Congressional District candidate Mike Collins, founder of a Georgia trucking company, over former Democrat Georgia State Representative Vernon Jones ahead of the Peachtree State’s GOP primary run-off election being held on Tuesday, June 21.
Jones, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured 21.6% of the vote while Collins earned 25.6% in an eight-candidate field. In order to win outright and avoid a run-off election, the first-place finisher had to have received 50% or more of the vote.
“Today, I’m proud to endorse Mike Collins to be the next congressman for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District,” Kemp said in a statement. “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.”
Collins has spent the majority of his career working in the trucking industry. His father is former GOP Congressman Mac Collins of Georgia, who served from 1995 to 2003.
“Mike is strongly pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, and will fight hard to put Georgians first in Congress,” Kemp added in his statement.
“I’m honored to have Governor @BrianKempGA ‘s trust & endorsement in our GA-10 Runoff,” Collins responded via Twitter.
I'm honored to have Governor @BrianKempGA's trust & endorsement in our GA-10 Runoff!
More jobs. Lower taxes. Defending the #2A. Protecting life. Fighting for rural communities.
That's what some of what he's delivered—and I look forward to working with him to deliver even more! pic.twitter.com/6yHMRNJyoB
— Mike Collins (@MikeCollinsGA) June 16, 2022
Kemp won the GOP’s gubernatorial primary in late May by more than 50 points.
Kemp, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence, defeated several other candidates, including former Senator David Perdue, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Democrat Stacey Abrams ran unopposed in her primary.
In April 2020, Jones resigned from his seat as a state representative and officially left the Democratic Party.
“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,” Jones told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time. “I take pride in being an independent thinker. I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative.”
Jones had originally sought the Georgia GOP nomination for governor before deciding to run for congress.
In February, Trump endorsed Jones.
“He’s an America-first fighter, who will never back down to the establishment or the radical left,” Trump said in a video address.
“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 press release. “America First movement is alive and well! The squad better get ready!”
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