(The Center Square) – The morning after Republican Clay Fuller advanced to a runoff in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District race, second-term Republican President Donald Trump praised Fuller on social media.
“Clay Fuller is going to be a fantastic congressman in representing the great state of Georgia,” the president wrote on social media Wednesday. “Now we have to be careful and finish it off. Make America Great Again!”
Trump endorsed Fuller in the race.
Fuller on April 7 will face Democrat Shawn Harris, who received 37.33% of the vote to Fuller’s 34.87%, according to results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. They’re hoping to succeed former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome
Greene resigned in January after a public feud with Trump. She did not endorse a candidate.
The winner of the runoff will serve until the end of the year and will be required to run again for a full two-year term that begins in 2027. Fuller and Harris have qualified for the May 19 primary.
Eleven of the Republican candidates in Tuesday night’s contest qualified for the May 19 primary: Fuller, former state Sen. Colton Moore, James Edward Tully Jr., Brian Stover, Nicky Lama, Eric Brad Cunningham, Reagan Christane Box, Star Black, Thomas Gray and Beau Brown.
Harris is the only Democrat qualified.
An April 7 runoff is also needed for three legislative posts on the ballot Tuesday.
Former Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas, a Republican, advanced to a runoff with Democrat Jack Zibluk for Moore’s former 52nd District Georgia Senate seat.
Democrat Venola Mason received 44.23% of the vote in the race to succeed state Rep. Karen Bennett in the Georgia House of Representatives. She will face Kelly Kautz, who received 23.20% of the vote. Bennett resigned after pleading guilty to a charge of making a false statement related to pandemic unemployment fraud. The district covers portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
Democrat Sheila Clark Nelson and Republican Thomas McAdams advanced to a runoff for the House District 130 post. Augusta Democrat Lynn Heffner resigned her position to focus on rebuilding her home damaged by Hurricane Helene.
