Republican Clay Fuller won Georgia's runoff election Tuesday, securing the seat left vacant by former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The victory maintains the Republican Party’s narrow 217-214 majority in the House of Representatives.
Fuller, a lieutenant colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard, defeated Democrat Shawn Harris. He will serve the remainder of Greene’s term, which concludes in January. Greene resigned earlier this year following a political break with former President Donald Trump.
A test of Trump’s influence
Fuller credited his win directly to the former president’s support. During an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, he called Trump’s backing the "key factor" in his campaign.
"He was the difference-maker," Fuller said. "It was the honour of my lifetime to be able to get his endorsement."
Trump heavily campaigned for the seat, posting on social media Monday asking "America First Patriots" to vote for Fuller. The race was viewed by political analysts as a litmus test for Trump’s sway over the Republican base heading into the November midterm elections.
Andra Gillespie, a professor of political science at Emory University, noted that the endorsement served a strategic purpose for the GOP. She explained that the move was an attempt to keep the party united without alienating moderate voters.
"In general, part of President Trump's strategy in endorsing Fuller was this recognition that the most red meat, MAGA-affiliated candidate in this particular instance, might be off-putting to voters in the middle," Gillespie said.
Harris, who performed well during the March 10 special election, failed to bridge the gap in the runoff. While he acknowledged the loss, he signaled that his political ambitions remain focused on the upcoming November cycle. "This wasn't the result we wanted, but the message is clear — people here are ready for leadership that puts them first," Harris said on social media. "The fight continues. On to November!"
Fuller previously served as a White House fellow during Trump’s first term. He has centered his platform on curbing illegal immigration and supporting mass deportation policies, aligning closely with the former president’s legislative agenda.
Because the seat is up for a full term in November, Fuller must immediately pivot to a new campaign. The 14th District, which stretches from the northwest Atlanta suburbs to the Tennessee border, remains a Republican stronghold. However, the race was closely watched by Washington to determine if Democratic turnout could overcome the district's conservative lean.
