ATLANTA (AP) — Vernon Jones, a former Democratic state representative who switched parties in support of President Donald Trump, announced Monday he’s running to become Georgia’s top election official.

Jones, who has called himself the “Black Donald Trump,” ran for Congress in 2022 with Trump’s endorsement, bolstering the president’s false claims that Georgia’s 2020 election was stolen from him.

“Trust in our elections has been shaken,” Jones said in a video announcing his campaign for secretary of state. He added, “Our elections must be secure. Our ballots must be protected.”

Current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, is running for governor in the 2026 election. One of Raffensperger’s former top officials, Republican Gabriel Sterling, is also running to replace him.

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