 In the July 15 , 2008 Democratic primary election , Jones won a plurality of votes in the Democratic primary . However , Georgia law requires a majority ; if no majority is reached by a candidate , the two top vote @-@ getters must face one another in a runoff . On August 5 , 2008 Jones lost the run @-@ off election to Jim Martin by a margin of 20 points . Jones unexpectedly lost to Martin in his home base of Dekalb County . Jones had lost support within the black community before the runoff election , and only captured two @-@ thirds of the black vote in the head to head match up against Martin . The black turnout in the run @-@ off was also substantially lower than the initial primary election , further hurting Vernon Jones ' chances in the runoff . 
