With Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene retiring, several high-profile contenders are vying for her seat.
Georgia's 14th Congressional District in the northwestern corner of the state is heavily Republican, with several candidates already filing or signaling their interest in the special election. (RELATED: How Did Marjorie Taylor Greene Get Here?)
My message to the 14th District of Georgia and America.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/tSoHCeAjn1— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) November 22, 2025
Two notable contenders have already filed with the Federal Election Commission before Greene announced her retirement in January 2026: Star Blackbusiness owner and former FEMA official, and Jeff Criswellbusinessman who owns a sports memorabilia store in metro Atlanta.
Black, who entered the race in June, has lived in part of Kennesaw County for nearly two decades. according to in Atlanta First news.
Criswell was the Republican candidate against Georgia Democrat Lucy McBath in the 2024 election, which he lost.
James Tully, the 14th District GOP chairman and one of Greene's best field staffers, announced on X that he would run for the seat. Tully was a longtime Greene supporter.
“Tonight I am announcing that I am absolutely running for Congress in the powerful 14th Congressional District in northwest Georgia,” Tully wrote. “I’m going to continue my desire to be a part and serve.”
Run for Congress in the Mighty Georgia 14! pic.twitter.com/Yt0HKoQwfD
— Jim Tully 🇺🇸 (@Jim_Tully) November 25, 2025
Elvis Caselya former sales professional and actor, has applied to join the platform, which focuses on consumer protection and family policy.
Several other potential candidates are considering entering the race, including Dalton City Councilman Nicky Lama, a small business owner who said he is considering the bid. according to to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, has also expressed interest in running. Moore developed a reputation for being at odds with his party's leadership in Atlanta.
In January, he was arrested at the state Capitol for “attempting to disrupt official proceedings” outside the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address, even “pushing[ing] several times as a trooper,” Georgia Department of Public Safety. asserts.
“Despite numerous verbal warnings and several attempts to de-escalate the situation, Senator Moore persisted in his attempts to disrupt formal proceedings within the House of Representatives,” the press release said. He was charged with intentionally obstructing the activities of law enforcement officers.
🚨New: Georgia State Senator Colton Moore (@realColtonMoore has expressed interest in running in the special election for Georgia's 14th Congressional District next year. pic.twitter.com/8jmQ5KsE4L
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) November 22, 2025
Moore also publicly clashed with Gov. Brian Kemp, at one point accusing Georgia National Guard troops stationed along the Texas border of “working for Biden” during the election. standoff between Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden administration on Texas' efforts to curb illegal immigration, Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
Some GOP officials see the crowded field as potentially problematic, although not for the reasons one might expect.
“The concerns that some Republicans have expressed are purely practical,” said one source familiar with the matter. “When an incumbent leaves his seat to run for another office, it can cause a domino effect. Other incumbents can enter that race, which opens up their seats, and suddenly you have multiple seats at once. The risk is not with any one candidate, the risk is losing seats in the chaos.”
Other potential candidates have announced plans to run but have not yet filed with the Federal Election Commission, including Christian HurdA 28-year Marine veteran from Whitfield County, and Joseph BergemanHigh school history and science teacher. (RELATED: As MTG approaches her departure, here's a look at her bitter battles with Democrats)
Also on the list is Jared Craig, a Newnan lawyer who challenged GOP Rep. Drew Ferguson in the 2022 GOP primary for Georgia's 3rd Congressional District and launched his campaign for Greene's seat on Dec. 1. according to in the Newnan Times-Herald.
