Updated March 11, 2026, 8:48 a.m. ET
The race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene is coming to a head.
A Republican and a Democrat are now headed to a springtime runoff for a Congressional seat in Georgia’s northwest corner after a special election on Tuesday, March 10. Whoever wins the April runoff will fill the seat vacated by Greene, who left Congress in January following months of contention with President Donald Trump.
Here’s what to know about 14th Congressional District special election, the results and why the race matters from the national point of view.
Why did this special election happen?
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp called the election in January 2026 to replace Greene’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The former congresswoman was a matriarch of the Make America Great Again movement, who pledged during the 2024 campaign that Trump’s return to power would “make us wealthy again.” But that relationship gave way to a public enmity between Greene and the president that preceded her exit from office.
Because this is not a primary race, all candidates appeared on the same ballot, according to Ballotpedia. A Republican or Democrat could win the seat, meaning the race could have a potential impact on the GOP’s slim majority in the House. A shift in the balance of power the chamber could be detrimental to Trump’s legislative agenda in the latter half of his second term.
Clay Fuller prepares to cast his vote at the West Brow community in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, on March 10, 2026.”/>Who are the candidates?
Dozens of names appeared on Tuesday’s ballot to replace Greene. While most of the candidates were Republicans, three Democrats, one Independent and one Libertarian joined the battle.
Here are a few names to know:
- Clay Fuller (R): Fuller is a state prosecutor with military experience who has received Trump’s endorsement.
- Shawn Harris (D): A former Marine who now lives on a farm is running on a platform of job growth and affordability.
- Nicky Lama (R): An entrepreneur, small-business leader, and Dalton City councilman who promises to be a “next-generation conservative leader.”
- Colton Moore (R): A former Georgia state senator who also works as an auctioneer and dump truck driver. He was arrested in January 2025 when he tried to enter the state House chamber, where he was previously banned.
- Brian Stover (R): A conservative businessman and “staunch supporter of President Trump” who touts his work reducing county taxes during his five years on the Paulding County Board of Commissioners.
Harris entered the day leading in campaign fundraising with nearly $4.3 million in funding, as of Feb. 18, according to the U.S. Federal Election Commission. Stover is the second-highest at nearly $3 million. Fuller’s total receipts reached $786,797.09 by comparison.
Trump-backed Fuller in runoff against Democratic contender
Harris finished with 37.3% of the vote, according to CNN and AP. He was 2,853 votes ahead of Trump-backed Fuller, who came in second with 34.9% of the vote. Another Republican, Moore, closed the day at 11.6%.
Fuller’s lead among a crowded roster of GOP competitors signals that Trump’s backing was a standout in the conservative-leaning district.
“I think it is a reaffirmation that the voters (here) support the president (and) hear what he thinks about the people he wants to carry on his agenda,” Fuller told USA TODAY in a one-on-one interview shortly after the results were announced.
Because neither Fuller nor Harris earned more than 50% to win outright, Georgia law requires the two head for an April 7 runoff election.
How does Trump factor in?
The president has been invested in this special election. He traveled to Georgia Feb. 19 to headline a rally in the 14th District, demonstrating his support of Fuller.
This election looms over the outset of the 2026 midterm primaries, and Trump is waging war against detractors within the GOP ranks and hoping to remain the party’s kingmaker by having his preferred candidate − Fuller, a state prosecutor — pull off a dominant performance.
The president also hopes to maintain an ally in the House to ensure he can pass his policy agenda in the remaining two years of his second term.
