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| Former district attorney Clay Fuller, a Republican, and retired Army Brig Gen Shawn Harris, a Democrat, will face off in the 7 April runoff (Image: Getty Images) |
After none of the candidates received a majority of the votes on Tuesday night, it is likely that the special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former Congresswoman of Georgia, will move on to a runoff. According to a projection made by CBS, the BBC's US partner, Republican Clay Fuller is expected to face Democrat Shawn Harris to represent Georgia's 14th congressional district. Fuller received the endorsement of President Donald Trump. The two candidates beat out a crowded field of 17 candidates for the runoff slots.
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In a Truth Social post and at a rally in Rome, Georgia, last month, Trump offered Fuller his "complete and total endorsement." Tuesday's election served as an early test of Trump's power to shape the upcoming midterm elections in November. Fuller, a former district attorney, stated on Tuesday night, "For those of you who questioned how important Donald J. Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14, and the state of Georgia, you see what this man means to this community, what he means to the people in this country, and what he means to the MAGA movement." The runoff election will be held 7 April.
Whoever wins the seat will serve out the rest of Greene's term, which ends in January, but they must begin campaigning again immediately to win their own full term in Congress in the midterms.
On Tuesday night, Harris, a Democrat, won the most votes, probably because the Republican base split up among many candidates. Only Fuller will be up against Harris in the runoff, and Fuller may find that Georgia's Republicans align behind him. Trump had already begun attempting to rally support for Fuller by Wednesday morning. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Clay Fuller is going to be a fantastic Congressman in representing the Great State of Georgia." "Now we have to be careful and finish it off. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
With former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg expressing his congratulations to Harris on X, Democrats are also contributing to the early momentum that has been built. Buttigieg stated, "Proud to be in your corner" and "looking forward to campaigning with you on Saturday."
Harris told the BBC his campaign would continue to "stay true to what we've been doing" ahead of the runoff.
"Everybody who voted for any other candidate [...] I want to talk to every last one of them, and say: 'Give me a chance'", he said.
Greene's larger-than-life political persona loomed over voters as they chose her replacement. Greene earned a reputation for flamboyant committee appearances, embracing conspiracy theories, and advocating for hardline immigration policies during her nearly six years in Congress. She was one of Trump's most prominent backers until their relationship combusted over the Epstein files; Greene pushed for legislation that would demand the government release its trove of documents, despite Trump's opposition. Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law after sustained political pressure from Congress. But their relationship never healed.
She has used her X account to criticize Trump for the US and Israeli military operation against Iran since she left office in January.
Voters went to the polls on Tuesday mindful of the feud. They had the dizzying task of choosing from 17 candidates, both Democrat and Republican.
Because they wanted a more dependable opponent for the president they support, some Republicans used Trump's endorsement to guide their own vote. Outside a polling place in Rome, Marsha Miles told the BBC that she "would have voted for Fuller anyway." However, Trump's endorsement indicated that he was the right choice. However, she also chose Fuller "for his morals, what he stands for, and his military service," as she put it. Fuller ran on a platformed that echoed Trump's priorities of mass deportation, increased domestic manufacturing, and a tough-on-crime stance.
"He's the perfect choice for representation in this area," said Teresa Lumsden, who attended his election night party.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the district hoped to flip the seat after six years of Greene's representation by electing Harris, a retired brigadier general and local farmer.
Sheila Hutchings, a Democrat, voted for Harris because she wanted "a more positive" personality who would "speak kindly" to all constituents regardless of party.
Source: BBC
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