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Republican Clay Fuller will head to Washington after winning a special election runoff Tuesday to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, though he is expected to face an immediate challenge to retain the seat.
Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris, securing about 56% of the vote to Harris’ 44%, according to unofficial results. The victory allows Fuller to serve out the remainder of Greene’s term after she stepped down in January following a public feud with President Donald Trump.
The win, however, sets up another near-term contest. Fuller will appear on the ballot again in November as part of regularly scheduled elections, beginning with a competitive Republican primary for a full term.
Fuller, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and former district attorney, credited Trump’s endorsement as a decisive factor in his victory after emerging from a crowded GOP primary field.
“He made sure that he was the ultimate trump card,” Fuller said, adding that he plans to support Trump’s agenda in Congress.
The outcome provides a modest boost to House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, who currently hold a narrow majority.
Despite the win, Democrats pointed to Harris’ performance as a sign of potential gains in a traditionally conservative stronghold. The district, Georgia’s 14th, is considered one of the most Republican-leaning in the state.
Harris improved on his 2024 showing against Greene, narrowing the margin significantly and outperforming prior Democratic results in the district.
“Tonight, we start campaigning for November,” Harris told supporters, noting he faces no primary opposition as he prepares for the general election.
Charlie Bailey, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, called the results a “jaw-dropping overperformance,” arguing they signal shifting dynamics ahead of the fall elections.
Fuller rejected that characterization, calling the outcome a “completely dominating performance” and predicting his margin would widen as final votes are counted.
The special election drew heightened attention as a potential barometer for broader political trends in Georgia, where voters will also decide races for governor, a U.S. Senate seat and the state’s full congressional delegation in November.
Voter sentiment in the district reflected a mix of party loyalty and frustration with national issues. Some Republican voters said they supported Fuller but emphasized broader concerns about representation, while others cited dissatisfaction with economic conditions and U.S. foreign policy.
The race comes amid a volatile national political environment, with tensions abroad and domestic economic concerns shaping voter attitudes in both parties.
Whether Democrats can build on their improved performance — or Republicans can reassert their traditional dominance — will become clearer as the November elections approach.
