South Fulton Today

Vernon Jones has ended his bid for the Georgia governorship following a meeting with former President Donald Trump.

Atlanta’s FOX5 reported that Jones, who switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP, was offered Trump’s endorsement if he pulled out of the gubernatorial contest and vied for the U.S. House of Representatives instead.

Jones took to Twitter to announce his candidacy for Congress on Feb. 7.

“Straight from the horse’s mouth!” he said in a tweet.

Jones also lent his support to former rival David Perdue, who is challenging incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp in Georgia’s Republican primary, which is slated for May 24, FOX5 reported.

"I believe strong conservative voices need to be heard as we pull Georgia into the future," Jones said in a statement obtained by the station.

Jones hailed Perdue as someone who “loves our state,” Atlanta Fox affiliate 11Alive reported.

"I'd like to thank the thousands of Georgians that welcomed me into their homes and communities,” Jones further said in the statement. I would ask for their continued support as I seek to represent them in the United States Congress."

According to Jones, Trump will support his campaign for Georgia's 10th congressional district.

Perdue previously represented the Peach State in the U.S. Senate from 2015 to 2021.

He is a cousin of Sonny Perdue, who served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under Trump from 2017 to last year.

Jones reportedly doesn’t reside in the district he aspires to represent, but according to 11Alive, no rule is broken as long as he continues to live in the state.

Perdue praised Jones as a “conservative patriot” in a statement distributed to the media.

 "We need his voice and we need him in the fight,” the ex-senator said. “I'm proud to have his support of our Trump-endorsed campaign.”