wˌɛn ˈæskt hˌuː wʊd ɹᵻplˈeɪs hˌɪm ɔnðə bˈælət, hɪz spˈoʊkspɚsən sˈɛd, "hɪz pɹˈɛfɹəns, jˈɛs, wʊd biː tə sˈiː hɪz sˈʌn ˈɛmɪl dʒˈoʊnz, ɹˌoʊmən θɹˈiː sˈɜːv," wˌɪtʃ hɐz pɹˈɑːmptᵻd kɹˈɪɾɪsˌɪzəm ænd bˌɪn dᵻskɹˈaɪbd æz "ɐnˈɔɪntɪŋ wˈʌn ʌv hɪz tʃˈɪldɹən tə tˈeɪk ˈoʊvɚ fɔːɹ hˌɪm.
When asked who would replace him on the ballot, his spokesperson said, "His preference, yes, would be to see his son Emil Jones, III serve," which has prompted criticism and been described as "anointing one of his children to take over for him.