Georgia Special Election Tuesday to Fill Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House Seat

Georgia voters head to polls Tuesday in a crowded special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stepped down in January after clashing with President Trump. With 17 candidates competing, the race could head to an April runoff if no one gets a majority.

WASHINGTON — Georgia’s 14th Congressional District takes center stage Tuesday as voters choose a successor to former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stepped down in January after a public dispute with President Donald Trump.

The outcome could further narrow Republicans’ thin House majority, particularly if Democrats manage an unlikely victory in a district where Trump secured 68% of the vote in 2024.

Initially, 22 candidates threw their hats in the ring for the open House seat, though several withdrew, leaving 17 active campaigns. All contenders appear on a single ballot regardless of party membership. Should no candidate capture a majority, the top two finishers will face off in an April 7 runoff election.

The Republican field includes 12 candidates, notably Clay Fuller, a state district attorney backed by Trump’s endorsement, and former state Senator Colton Moore.

Three Democrats are seeking the position, with retired Army Brigadier General Shawn Harris leading the pack. Harris previously ran against Greene in 2024 and has outpaced all competitors in fundraising, collecting approximately $4.3 million with roughly $290,000 remaining as of February 18. Fuller trails in second place for campaign funds, holding about $238,000 after raising around $787,000 throughout his campaign.

The northwestern Georgia district touches both Alabama and Tennessee borders, encompassing 10 counties. Paulding County contains the largest population, followed by a section of Cobb County. Major cities within the district include Rome, Dalton, Acworth, and portions of Kennesaw.

During his 2024 challenge, Harris captured approximately 36% of district votes. His strongest performance came in Cobb County, where he earned about 49% compared to Greene’s 51%. Paulding County marked his second-best showing with roughly 41% support.

Greene dominated district-wide with about 63% of votes, performing best in Murray County.

While Trump’s backing should benefit Fuller, given Trump’s superior district performance compared to Greene, Harris might secure a runoff position if he matches his 2024 numbers. This scenario becomes more plausible with Democratic votes concentrated among just three candidates versus 12 Republican contenders.

Additional special elections Tuesday include state Senate District 53 to replace Moore, plus state House Districts 94 and 130 for other vacant positions. Republicans maintain control of both legislative chambers, and these contests won’t alter their majorities.

The Associated Press won’t project winners until determining no mathematical path exists for trailing candidates to overcome deficits. Until declaring a winner, the AP will report significant developments like candidate concessions while clearly stating no winner has been announced.

Georgia lacks automatic recount procedures, but candidates may request recounts when margins equal 0.5% or less of total votes. The AP may still declare winners in recount-eligible races if leads appear insurmountable through recounts or legal challenges.

Key election details include polls closing at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The AP will report results and announce winners for the 14th Congressional District, state Senate District 53, and state House Districts 94 and 130.

All registered voters may participate in their respective district’s special election. As of Thursday, approximately 521,000 registered voters live in the 14th Congressional District, with Georgia not requiring party registration.

The 2024 general election saw roughly 378,000 votes cast in the 14th District, representing about 74% of registered voters. Approximately 76% of those votes were submitted before Election Day. By Friday, nearly 54,000 ballots had already been cast in the House special election.

In 2024, the AP initially reported 14th District results at 7:10 p.m. Eastern, just 10 minutes after poll closure. By 11:24 p.m., about 99% of votes were tabulated. Final vote updates came from Cobb County at 4:46 a.m. Eastern, with roughly 99.9% counted.

All 10 district counties typically release absentee results in their first vote updates. Four counties, including the two largest (Paulding and Cobb), usually include complete early in-person voting results initially. Since 2020, Democrats have favored early and mail voting, potentially giving Democratic candidates early leads in jurisdictions reporting these votes first, before Election Day ballots are counted.

Following Tuesday’s elections, 238 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.