Georgia's 14th District: Republican Clay Fuller declares victory

ROME, Ga. - Clay Fuller, an attorney and military officer, secured the seat previously held by Marjorie Taylor Greene before her resignation.

The AP called the race in Georgia's 14th Congressional District just after 8:20 p.m. with Fuller taking more than 55% of the vote.

Counting begins in 14th District

What we know:

Clay Fuller, a military officer and attorney, pulled ahead in the runoff on April 7. Fuller described himself as a "fighter" in local courtrooms and the military, promising to bring that same energy to Washington. 

What we don't know:

While the winner has been declared, officials have not released the final percentage of registered voters who participated. It is also unclear how many provisional ballots remain to be processed.

Fuller pledges loyalty to Trump agenda

What Fuller is saying:

Fuller was clear about his alignment with the 47th president. "I'll always have President Trump's back," Fuller said when asked about war powers. Regarding international tensions, he added, "I fully support President Trump's decision-making related to national security. I think he's shown that over time." When asked about his predecessor, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Fuller said he was "not aware" of her recent comments and is focused on his own work for the people. 

Fuller believes a Republican win was vital for the region. "I think it's incredibly important to make sure that we're fighting for the president's agenda," Fuller said. He argued that if the district had "gone blue," it would have been a "complete tragedy" for people in Northwest Georgia. His immediate goals include "making sure we're bringing good manufacturing jobs back to the district." 

Harris reacts to narrow election loss

What Harris is saying:

Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired Army Brigadier General, addressed supporters and media Tuesday night following a narrow defeat in northwest Georgia's special election, vowing to remain in the race through November. He said the attention now turns away from politics and back to governing. 

Harris, a veteran with 40 years of military service, spoke about the conflict with Iran stating, "The last thing I want is for any of our veterans or any of our soldiers anywhere in the world, to have to go back into another forever war."

Performance in 'ruby red' district surprises

Local perspective:

Harris described the election results as a "win" despite coming up short of his Republican opponent. He viewed the result as a sign of shifting tides.

Harris noted that the Republican Party spent nearly $2 million on what he called a "smear campaign" to secure a victory in a traditionally "ruby red" district. He believes this performance indicates that "things are changing here in northwest Georgia."

Fuller dismissed concerns about close margins, noting that his campaign has dominated every aspect of the race since it began on March 10. 

Balance of power in the House

Big picture view:

Though this is a local special election, the race has captured national attention as a potential bellwether for the political climate leading up to the all-important Midterm Election. National observers are watching to see if issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy influenced voters in this deep-red district. Because the balance of power in the House of Representatives is narrow, every seat remains vital to both parties' agendas.

Fuller’s win brings the Republican House majority to 218-214, with one independent and two remaining vacancies. 

New Jersey’s 11th District, which previously seated a Democrat, and California’s 1st District, which previously seated a Republican, are both set for special elections. The former is scheduled for the end of April with the latter being set for early August. 

November rematch?

What's next:

Both candidates now turn their attention to the general election in November, where they are likely headed for a rematch.

Fuller expressed total confidence in his ability to win again, stating, "We'll continue to do it no matter how many times we have to run it." 

Harris confirmed he is not facing a primary opponent and will proceed directly to the November election. He plans to conduct a full campaign evaluation later this week to improve his "ground game" and messaging. 

Fuller faces a Republican primary on May 14.

Harris told reporters he looks forward to "fighting again come November."