Businessman Mike Collins has defeated former Democratic State Representative Vernon Jones in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District GOP primary run-off election.
As of press time, Collins secured 78.26% of the vote while Jones earned 21.74%, according to Decision Desk HQ, with enough votes reported to project a Collins victory.
In the GOP primary, Jones 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.
Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) endorsed Collins just last week. Jones has had the support of former President Donald Trump since February.
“Today, I’m proud to endorse Mike Collins to be the next congressman for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District,” Kemp said in his endorsement. “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.
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 also endorsed by 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 after reportedly being persuaded by Trump.
Collins will now face the winner of the Democratic Party’s primary run-off election for the 10th Congressional District between Jessica Fore and Tabitha Johnson-Green.
According to Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman, the 10th district is solidly Republican in this year’s midterm election.
I've seen enough: Mike Collins (R) defeats Trump-endorsed Vernon Jones (R) in the #GA10 GOP runoff. @CookPolitical November rating: Solid R.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) June 21, 2022