Key takeaways:
- Georgia’s 14th Congressional District is holding a special election with 17 candidates to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene; a runoff is possible if no candidate wins over 50%.
- The district is a Republican stronghold, with key Republican candidates Clay Fuller and Colton Moore competing, while Democrat Shawn Harris leads fundraising and has notable endorsements.
- The winner will serve a short term before facing primaries and the general election later in the year; nearly 54,000 ballots have been cast, and polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District are participating in a special election on Tuesday to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene resigned earlier this year following a public dispute with former President Donald Trump. The election features a crowded field of 17 candidates, including 12 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian, and one independent. Despite some candidates withdrawing after the deadline, all remain on the ballot. If no candidate secures a majority of over 50%, a runoff election is scheduled for April 7.
The district, located in northwest Georgia, has been a Republican stronghold, with Trump winning the area by 68% in the 2024 presidential election. Republicans are aiming to maintain control of the seat, while Democrats hope that the large number of candidates and potentially low voter turnout might allow them to narrow the gap in the U.S. House. Among the Republican contenders are Clay Fuller, a former district attorney endorsed by Trump, and Colton Moore, a former state senator who resigned to run. Moore has positioned himself as a disruptor within the party and has publicly criticized the investigation into Trump by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Fuller has emphasized his full support for Trump’s policies, particularly on border security and immigration.
On the Democratic side, retired Army Brigadier General Shawn Harris is the most prominent candidate, having previously challenged Greene in 2024. Harris has raised approximately $4.3 million, significantly outpacing his Republican rivals in fundraising. He has also received an endorsement from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who expressed optimism about Harris’s chances to flip the seat. Harris has reported receiving threats during his campaign and has taken precautions such as wearing a bulletproof vest at events. Other Democratic candidates include attorney Jonathan Hobbs and author Jim Davis, while Libertarian Andrew Underwood and independent Rob Ruszkowski are also on the ballot.
The special election coincides with other local races, including special elections for Georgia’s state Senate District 53 and state House Districts 94 and 130, though these contests are not expected to affect the Republican majorities in the state legislature. The winner of the special election will serve a brief term before facing another election in the May 19 party primaries, with a potential runoff in June, leading up to the general election in November. As of Friday, nearly 54,000 ballots had been cast in the special election. Polls are set to close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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