Clay Fuller is in favor of the ongoing conflict in Iran, while Shawn Harris stands against it. Voters in the district previously represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene in northwestern Georgia concluded that this difference in opinion was insufficient to elect a Democrat to a predominantly conservative House seat during the election held on Tuesday.
The Associated Press declared the election outcome as results began to emerge from the rural areas in the northwestern part of the state.
Both candidates vying to succeed the former Trump ally, who resigned from Congress earlier this year, possess impressive military backgrounds. Fuller serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve and is a military attorney, while Harris is a retired brigadier general with experience commanding troops in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Liberia. His most recent position before retirement was as a military attaché in Israel.
On paper, Harris faced significant challenges in winning the election, as Georgia’s 14th congressional district favored Trump by a two-to-one ratio in the 2024 election, a margin similar to the one Harris experienced in his previous loss to Greene. However, in line with trends observed in special congressional elections since Trump’s presidency began, the Democratic candidate performed surprisingly well. Early results indicate that Harris has surpassed his 2024 performance by a notable margin. He stated his intention to run again in November for a complete congressional term.
The ongoing war, which Trump had threatened to intensify just before agreeing to a two-week ceasefire, is broadly unpopular among Americans, a sentiment Harris aimed to leverage throughout his campaign.
“This current conflict is a war of choice,” Harris remarked during the only debate of the campaign on March 22. “The president was advised against engaging in it, yet he proceeded, and now we are left to determine how to extricate ourselves… We should refrain from deploying ground troops, as this is not a conflict we need to be involved in. Our focus should be on withdrawing.”
In contrast, during the same debate, Fuller expressed his endorsement of Trump’s military strategies. “Our nation is more secure because of President Trump’s actions regarding Iran,” Fuller asserted. “Recent news illustrates this; Iran launched a ballistic missile targeting Diego Garcia, where American personnel are stationed… [Iran] is a regime that cannot be negotiated with.”
The Republican Party currently controls the House with a narrow three-vote majority and three vacant seats. A Democratic win in Greene’s former district would have posed a significant setback for Republican ambitions leading into the midterm elections, making this race particularly noteworthy. Samuel L. Jackson recorded a promotional ad for Harris, and Pete Buttigieg joined him on the campaign trail.
Fuller maintained a relatively low profile after finishing second in an open “jungle” primary, where numerous Republican candidates divided the conservative vote. His connection to Trump, stemming from his time as a White House aide, and his role as an elected prosecutor in the Lookout Mountain judicial circuit in north Georgia helped him gain support.
Harris outperformed Fuller in fundraising, amassing $6.5 million compared to Fuller’s $1.2 million. Nevertheless, external organizations have invested nearly $2 million in negative advertisements targeting Harris.
“Who runs negative ads against someone perceived to have no chance?” Harris questioned in an interview with the Guardian. “Democrats and independents are highly motivated and dissatisfied with Trump.”
Prior to the election results, Fuller’s team expressed optimism about their chances.
“The 14th district is united behind President Trump and his candidate Clay Fuller, as they recognize the importance of not conceding any ground to radical leftists or their candidates,” stated Fuller spokesperson Will Hampson on Tuesday evening. “Clay has been deeply moved by the unity and support from former opponents to grassroots supporters. He is confident that he will secure a victory tonight and deliver results for the hardworking citizens of northwestern Georgia in Congress.”
