Republican Clay Fuller wins runoff election for north Georgia congressional seat

Fuller will serve out the remainder of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's term, but faces primary and general election challenges ahead.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:19am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an American flag waving in the warm sunlight of an empty government building hallway, conceptually representing the political tensions and shifting power dynamics in Georgia's 14th District.The runoff election victory for Republican Clay Fuller preserves the GOP's control of Georgia's 14th Congressional District, but the campaign ahead will test the district's political dynamics.Rome Today

Republican Clay Fuller has won a runoff election to represent Georgia's 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fuller, a former district attorney, defeated Democrat Shawn Harris to claim the seat vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene in January. However, Fuller will need to win both the May primary and the November general election to keep the position.

Why it matters

This election maintains the Republican hold on Georgia's 14th District, which has historically leaned conservative. While Harris performed better than expected, the district's partisan leanings make it an uphill battle for Democrats. Fuller's victory preserves the GOP's control of the seat, but he will face additional challenges to secure a full term.

The details

In the runoff election, Fuller defeated retired general Shawn Harris to win the remainder of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's term. Fuller, a former district attorney, campaigned on continuing the conservative policies favored by the district's Republican base. Harris said the results showed a shift in power, with his campaign gaining votes in traditionally Republican counties. However, Fuller will need to win both the May primary and November general election to keep the seat, as Harris and other Republican challengers vie for the nomination.

  • The runoff election was held on April 8, 2026.
  • Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene vacated the seat in January 2026.
  • The May 2026 primary and November 2026 general election will determine who serves a full term.

The players

Clay Fuller

The Republican winner of the runoff election who will serve out the remainder of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's term. Fuller is a former district attorney.

Shawn Harris

The Democratic candidate who ran against Fuller in the runoff election. Harris is a retired general who said the results showed a shift in power, with his campaign gaining votes in traditionally Republican counties.

Marjorie Taylor Greene

The former Republican representative whose seat was vacated in January 2026, leading to the special election won by Clay Fuller.

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What they’re saying

“If it had gone blue, it would have been a complete tragedy for the people of northwest Georgia.”

— Clay Fuller, Republican Candidate

“We're not sad about nothing.”

— Shawn Harris, Democratic Candidate

“We got votes in counties nobody would have thought we got a vote.”

— Shawn Harris, Democratic Candidate

What’s next

If Fuller wants to keep the seat, he'll have to win the May 2026 primary election and then the November 2026 general election. Harris says there are plenty of other Republicans who will want to unseat Fuller in the primary.

The takeaway

This election maintains the Republican hold on Georgia's 14th Congressional District, but Fuller faces additional challenges to secure a full term. The results show the district's conservative leanings, though Harris' stronger-than-expected performance suggests a potential shift in the political landscape.