Democrat Shawn Harris finished first in the special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. This result sends an early warning sign to Republicans in one of the state’s most conservative areas. Harris will face Republican Clay Fuller in a runoff on April 7.
Unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, as reported by Atlanta News First and the Associated Press, showed Harris with 37.33% of the vote and Fuller with 34.87% late on election night. Since no candidate received a majority in the all-party special election, the top two candidates advanced to a runoff.
This outcome is significant because the northwest Georgia district has historically leaned Republican. Greene represented the district until her resignation took effect on January 5. The House clerk’s office states that the seat has remained vacant since then, leaving the district without voting representation until a replacement is elected.
Harris, a cattle farmer and retired brigadier general, told supporters after the vote that his campaign gained support beyond the Democratic base. Harris said, “Finally, finally, we can break through as a coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Tonight, you would imagine everybody was here as Democrats. No. It’s also Republicans here, because they want change.”
Let’s be clear about this case.
When Clay Fuller was DA, he didn’t have his case ready, a judge said so, and a rapist was released and went on to hurt another woman.
That’s not politics. That’s a failure of leadership.
Northwest Georgia deserves leaders who are prepared. #GA14 pic.twitter.com/L14qer7nqz
— Shawn Harris for Congress (@ShawnForGeorgia) April 1, 2026
Fuller, the district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump during the race. After advancing to the runoff, Fuller expressed confidence that Republicans would rally behind him. He said, “I think the Republican Party is going to unite around us because they know that the Democrat is too dangerous. We can’t have a Democrat representing Georgia 14.”
Trump’s endorsement was expected to help Fuller in the crowded Republican field, but it was not enough for him to reach 50%. When Trump endorsed Fuller in February, Reuters reported that the president portrayed him as a reliable “America First” ally in the race to succeed Greene. However, the Republican vote split among many candidates, allowing Harris to emerge as the top finisher in the first round.
Greene had represented the district since 2021 and had easily won reelection, making Harris’ first-place finish noteworthy, despite the district’s strong Republican lean. Atlanta News First described the seat as heavily Republican. The AP noted that Harris is likely to face challenges in the runoff despite his strong performance in the initial election.
THANK YOU, Mr. President.
This is the honor of a lifetime. I will not let you or Georgia’s 14th District down.
Our work to put America first is just getting started! pic.twitter.com/YjBsu2v0Rm
— Clay Fuller (@Clay4MainStreet) February 5, 2026
The contest is important beyond northwest Georgia. The AP reported that the runoff occurs while Republicans hold a narrow 218-214 majority in the House, meaning that even a single special election has national implications. Additionally, the race tests whether Democrats can remain competitive in areas that have recently been viewed as safely Republican.
The winner of the April 7 runoff will serve the remainder of Greene’s term, which lasts until early January 2027. Both Harris and Fuller will face another campaign right after that, with Georgia’s regular primary scheduled for May 19 and the general election for a full two-year House term set for November 3.
In an interview with Raw Story, Harris said he has received crossover appeal to voters across party lines because of economic issues under Trump. With Greene claiming MAGA was a lie and going after the president, it is unclear how her stance will affect the outcome of what is expected to be a tight race.
