By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and cattle farmer, emerged as the leading candidate in the first round of voting in the special election to replace former U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. However, Harris failed to secure the required majority, forcing a runoff against Republican Clayton “Clay” Fuller, a district attorney and lieutenant colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
The initial vote took place on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, across northwest Georgia, including the city of Rome, where voters participated in a crowded special election field of more than a dozen candidates. Harris finished first with roughly 37% of the vote, while Fuller secured about 35%, preventing either candidate from crossing the 50% threshold required to win outright.
The election was triggered after Greene resigned from Congress earlier in January 2026 following a public political fallout with Trump, leaving the seat vacant.
Because no candidate achieved an outright majority, election law requires a runoff scheduled for April 7, 2026, where voters will decide who completes the remainder of Greene’s congressional term.
Political analysts say the runoff will test both Trump’s influence within Republican politics and the Democrats’ ability to compete in a traditionally conservative district.
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