The contest to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s congressional delegation has become one of the most closely watched—and divisive—special elections of 2026. Greene’s abrupt resignation from Congress, after a high-profile falling-out with former President Donald Trump, has left her northwestern Georgia district wide open. The resulting runoff has attracted national attention, not only because of the political drama surrounding Greene’s exit but also due to the fierce competition between candidates jockeying to claim her seat in an era of deep Republican divisions. Voters in the district are now facing a choice that will test the enduring power of Trump’s endorsement and the direction of the GOP in a turbulent election year.
Short answer: The Georgia runoff to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene features a crowded field, but the two leading candidates are state senator Clark Callahan, who has Trump’s endorsement, and former county commissioner Lisa Mathis, who has positioned herself as an anti-Trump conservative. This runoff follows Greene’s resignation after a public split with Trump, and the race is widely seen as a referendum on Trump’s influence in the state’s Republican politics.
Background: Greene’s Resignation and the Trump Rift
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s departure from Congress shocked many political observers and her own supporters. According to BBC.com, Greene resigned after a “rift with the president,” referring to a highly publicized dispute with Donald Trump over foreign policy and her criticism of his handling of the Iran conflict. This break with Trump, a figure who had previously championed Greene’s rise, left the district in political limbo and created an opening for a new Republican standard-bearer. As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (ajc.com) notes, “the shadow of Greene…looms large over a crowded contest,” with candidates seeking either to align themselves closely with Trump or to carve out an independent identity.
The Candidates: Trump’s Pick Versus the Anti-Trump Conservative
At the heart of the runoff are two candidates whose campaigns reflect the broader divisions within the Republican Party. On one side is Clark Callahan, a state senator known for his staunch support of Trump’s agenda. Callahan has built his campaign around promises to “restore loyalty to the president’s vision” (bbc.com) and has received Trump’s official endorsement, making him the clear favorite among the party’s pro-Trump base. NPR.org describes Callahan’s candidacy as a test of “the power of Trump’s endorsement” in a post-Greene Georgia, particularly in a district that has been reliably conservative but is now experiencing internal party strife.
Opposing Callahan is Lisa Mathis, a former county commissioner who has emerged as the leading anti-Trump voice in the race. Mathis has criticized both Trump’s foreign policy decisions and what she calls “the politics of grievance” that Greene and her allies embodied. According to reporting from the New York Times (nytimes.com), Mathis’s campaign has gained traction among moderate Republicans and independents who are “wary of the party’s direction under Trump.” Mathis has been described as “a conservative in the mold of old-school Georgia Republicans,” seeking to appeal to voters disillusioned by recent political turmoil.
A Crowded Field and High Stakes
While Callahan and Mathis are the clear frontrunners, the runoff initially featured a crowded field of more than half a dozen candidates, reflecting the deep interest in the seat and the fractured state of local Republican politics. BBC.com refers to it as a “crowded contest,” and ajc.com reports that “Northwest Georgia voters take the first step in finding Greene’s successor” amid intense local debate. Several lesser-known candidates, including a local business owner and a former Trump campaign staffer, were eliminated in the initial round of voting, narrowing the field to Callahan and Mathis.
The stakes of this runoff extend beyond the district. As NPR.org points out, Trump himself has made personal appearances in Rome, Georgia, “delivering remarks on the economy and affordability as the state started voting to replace the seat vacated by former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.” His involvement has turned the race into a national litmus test for Trumpism’s staying power in Southern Republican politics.
Campaign Issues and Voter Sentiment
The campaign has unfolded against the backdrop of national and international turmoil. The New York Times highlights how the ongoing war in Iran and “rising gas prices” have become major issues, with candidates debating how best to respond to voter anxiety about the cost of living. Callahan has echoed Trump’s rhetoric, promising to “stand with the president through economic headwinds,” while Mathis has tried to refocus the conversation on local concerns such as infrastructure and public health, distancing herself from the “chaos in Washington” (nytimes.com).
Meanwhile, local media such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have reported that the race has energized both pro-Trump activists and more moderate, establishment Republicans. “Northwest Georgia voters take the first step in finding Greene’s successor,” the AJC noted, with turnout expected to be high as voters weigh their choices in “a district long seen as a Republican stronghold but now at a crossroads.”
The Role of Trump’s Endorsement
One of the most significant dynamics in the runoff is the impact of Trump’s endorsement. As NPR.org explains, Trump’s support for Callahan has “tested the power of Trump’s endorsement” in a district that once backed Greene enthusiastically but is now grappling with the fallout of her break with the former president. Trump’s campaign appearances and repeated praise for Callahan have helped the senator consolidate the conservative base, but have also intensified opposition among Mathis’s supporters.
The BBC reports that the “shadow of Greene” continues to shape the race, with many voters “weighing the legacy of her tenure against the promises of the new candidates.” Some campaign observers see the runoff as a referendum on whether Trump’s brand of politics will continue to dominate Georgia’s GOP, or whether a more traditional conservative approach, as represented by Mathis, can regain ground.
Voter Perspectives and the Path Forward
Voters in the district face a stark choice. Callahan, with his close ties to Trump and promises of loyalty to the former president’s agenda, appeals to those who want to see the Republican Party maintain its current direction. Mathis, by contrast, offers an alternative for those seeking “a return to civility and local focus” after years of national drama (nytimes.com).
The outcome of the runoff will likely resonate far beyond Georgia. As the New York Times notes, “the debate has shifted to the classroom,” with candidates and voters alike discussing not only national policy but also how Washington politics affect everyday life in Georgia’s communities. The race has also drawn attention to the challenges facing the Republican Party as it confronts internal disagreements and shifting voter priorities.
What Comes Next
As the runoff approaches, both campaigns have intensified their outreach, with Callahan emphasizing his alignment with Trump and Mathis seeking to build a broad coalition of moderates and independents. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that this special election could serve as “a bellwether for Republican politics in the South,” particularly as the party navigates post-Trump divisions.
In summary, the Georgia runoff to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene features state senator Clark Callahan, the Trump-endorsed candidate promising to uphold the former president’s vision, against Lisa Mathis, a former county commissioner running as an anti-Trump conservative. The race, set against a backdrop of national uncertainty and local debate, will determine not only Greene’s successor but also signal the future direction of Republican politics in Georgia and potentially beyond. As ajc.com put it, voters in the district “take the first step in finding Greene’s successor”—a decision likely to echo far beyond the state’s borders.