Race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene tests Georgia’s loyalty to Trump

Jennifer Turnipseed is also striving to reduce the cost of living and to protect family farms, such as her own, from federal regulations, while lauding more than 20 years of military experience as an army logistics officer.

Some candidates are relying on their faith to attract votes, such as Tom Gray, who hopes his 30 years of experience as a pastor at Mars Hill Community Church and ministry work will resonate with the community.

Eric Cunningham, who works for a railroad company, has focused his campaign on "God, family and country" and vowed to combat the opioid crisis.

As former chair of the 14th District GOP and the Paulding County Republican Party, Jim Tully has not only promoted himself as "a man of faith," but as an invested candidate known for his active political involvement.

As immigration remains a talking point with the town of Dalton home to a large immigrant and Latino population, Tully called for increasing the number of federal agents.

“I think this country has been overrun," Tully said during a debate with the Atlanta Press Club. "Some estimates have us at plus 20 million over the past four four years or so. These people came here illegally. They crossed a river, they jumped a fence, they came across everywhere but a border crossing. They are here illegally, and they need to go back to where they came from.”

Democrats eye upset

Despite being in the minority, three Democrats are still in the race and fighting to win over voters.

The Democratic Party of Georgia has endorsed Shawn Harris, a farmer and military veteran, who challenged Greene in 2024 and earned just over 35% of the vote.

"Shawn Harris is the leader who will fight for his constituents and their families," the Whitfield County Democratic Committee said in a statement.

His vocal opposition to a Republican-sponsored bill currently pending in the legislature could gain him more votes this time around.

The district's own Republican parties have spoken out against Georgia House Bill 211, which aims to shield manufacturers from liability for discharging “forever chemicals" that pose significant long-term health risks and don't break down in the environment.

They even wrote a letter of opposition to the legislature last week, calling for clear accountability against corporate actors whose actions cause widespread harm to citizens' health.

The issue has impacted voters living in the district directly, as the city of Dalton is known as the "carpet capital of the world," where toxic runoff from carpet manufacturers has contaminated local drinking water and soil.

"If your water is not clean, if your soil is not clean, if everything is contaminated, it completely affects our entire ecosystem," Harris said on his "Voices from the Dirt Road" show.

Democrats are striving to usher their constituents into a new era, with Jim Davis pushing to raise the minimum wage and Jonathan Hobbs prioritizing job security and more affordable housing.

Confidence among local Democrats is up after they flipped two seats in the state's public service commission election in November, while also overperforming and winning in red, statehouse districts in Texas and Louisiana.

"While I do not believe that Democrats have any realistic chance to flip District 14 — which is the most Republican district in Georgia according to Cook Political Reports PVI — a well-funded Shawn Harris can make some inroads in a district that could help Democrats in statewide Senate and gubernatorial races later this year that are expected to be very close in this competitive swing state," said Nathan Price, a political science and international affairs professor at the University of North Georgia.

Independent candidate Rob Ruszkowski and libertarian Andrew Underwood are taking the stance to separate themselves from the political division sowed by the country's two-party system, which they feel has neglected its citizens.

"Our district, with a median income of $71,533 and a population of 775,000, needs voices on big 2026 Georgia issues like welfare reform, affordability, education and public safety," local resident Linda Tremblay said.

With so many candidates on the ballot, political scientists say the race is likely to lead to a runoff, which would be held on April 7, if no one receives more than 50% of the vote.

The outcome will determine how many seats are held in the House, where Republicans cling to a narrow 218-214 majority.

Election day is Tuesday, March 10. The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Greene's term, until January 2027.

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