Georgia holds special election for US House seat vacated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

ROME, Georgia — Voters in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District will decide in a special election Tuesday who they want to send to Washington. 

The U.S. House seat was vacated when Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January. 

The 14th Congressional District, in the northwest corner of Georgia, borders Alabama and Tennessee. It spans 10 counties, with Paulding the most populous, followed by a portion of Cobb. It is home to the cities of Rome, Dalton, Acworth and parts of Kennesaw.

Twenty-two candidates initially filed to run for the vacant seat. Only a few dropped out of the race, so voters will decide among the 17 remaining hopefuls. All candidates, regardless of their political affiliation, will be on the same ballot. 

Twelve Republicans and three Democrats are representing their political parties. Among the remaining two candidates, one is running as a Libertarian, and one is independent.   

If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two will advance to a runoff election on April 7. 

Polls for the special election will close at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 10. 

There is no automatic recount provision in Georgia, but a losing candidate may request a recount if the margin is less than or equal to 0.5% of the total vote. 

Republicans currently hold a small majority in the U.S. House, so the potential for a Democratic upset in this race would further narrow the GOP’s advantage. 

Greene was long considered a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, but she became increasingly critical of the Trump administration, which drew ire from the White House and some of her constituents. 

Her resignation followed a monthslong public falling-out with the president, after she criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care.

Trump branded her a “traitor” and “wacky” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year. 

Greene explained her decision to resign in a lengthy video she posted online, citing concerns about potential political fallout during Georgia’s next primary election.   

The Associated Press contributed to this report.