RINGGOLD, Ga. (AP) 鈥� Republican Clay Fuller on Tuesday won Marjorie Taylor Greene鈥檚 , turning back a Democratic challenge with the help of President Donald Trump鈥檚 endorsement despite uneasiness over the war in Iran.
In a deep red district that Greene won by 29 points and Trump carried by almost 37 points two years ago, Fuller was on track to prevail by about 12 points with almost all votes counted. The result added to a string of special elections where Democrats performed better than expected, a track record that the party hopes will create momentum toward November’s midterm elections when control of Congress hangs in the balance.
In another election held Tuesday, a Democratic-backed candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court , growing the liberal majority there.
Fuller insisted that his victory over Democratic candidate Shawn Harris in Georgia was a testimony to Trump’s staying power.
鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 beat Donald Trump and they never will,鈥� he told supporters in Ringgold, near the border with Tennessee. 鈥淎nd I will be on Capitol Hill as a warrior to have his back each and every day.鈥�
However, Trump鈥檚 had some Republicans concerned, even in this deep red district. for Tuesday at 8 p.m. 鈥� one hour after polls closed in Georgia 鈥� for Iran to reach a deal with the United States, saying that 鈥渁 whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.鈥� However, he later announced a two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to continue.
Acworth resident Jason McGinty said he was worried Trump was 鈥渁bout to go too far” and “may be committing a war crime鈥� if he followed through on threats to bomb power plants and other infrastructure in Iran. He voted for Fuller to 鈥渕ake sure the America First party is still in place.鈥�
Retiree Judy McDonald agreed with the president鈥檚 decision to go to war but was 鈥渧ery anxiety-ridden鈥� over the conflict.
鈥淓ventually we will have peace and the Iranians will kind of come to a conclusion that they won鈥檛 have a country if they don鈥檛 stop the terrorism,鈥� she said.
Some Democrats hoped the election would send a message to Trump
Fuller will serve out the remaining months of Greene鈥檚 term, bolstering the party鈥檚 slim majority in the House, where Republicans control 217 seats to Democrats鈥� 214, with one independent.
He鈥檒l have to face another Republican primary on May 19 to win a full two-year term, and could face a June 16 party runoff. Harris is already the Democratic nominee for November.
Retiree Melinda Dorl supported Harris 鈥渟o it sends a message to Trump and his cronies that people aren鈥檛 happy,” she said.
鈥淭his war was totally uncalled for. Trump is a liar. Everything he says is a lie,鈥� Dorl said, adding that Trump was wrecking relationships with countries that have traditionally been American allies.
Harris, who describes himself as a 鈥渄irt-road Democrat,鈥� stirred enthusiasm even among supporters who expected him to lose.
鈥淚 voted for the Democrat even though this is a very red district and the Democrat has almost no chance of winning,鈥� said Michael Robards, a software engineer from Kennesaw who calls himself a center-right independent. He said he wants to see Trump鈥檚 policies rolled back and the president again impeached.
Georgia’s 14th District stretches across 10 counties from suburban Atlanta to Tennessee. After losing to Greene two years ago, Harris said his strong showing this time would be a stepping stone to November.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to beat him next time,鈥� Harris said on Tuesday in Rome, Georgia.
Fuller said he had withstood Democrats鈥� best punch.
鈥淭he left did their best. They poured in millions upon millions of dollars,鈥� Fuller told reporters. 鈥淎nd what you鈥檙e seeing is the best that they can accomplish.鈥�
Fuller had presidential support
endorsed Fuller, a district attorney who prosecuted crimes in four counties, to succeed Greene in February, boosting him over other Republican candidates in a crowded field.
Greene, once among Trump鈥檚 most ardent supporters, by criticizing his foreign policy and his reluctance to release documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case. The president eventually had enough, saying he would support a primary challenge against her. Greene announced a week later that
Outside of Congress, Greene has continued to assail Trump.
鈥淭rump was elected to go to war against America鈥檚 deep state and to end America鈥檚 involvement in foreign wars,鈥� she wrote on social media on Tuesday. 鈥淣ot to kill an entire civilization while waging a foreign war on behalf of Israel, another foreign country.鈥�
However, Fuller has backed Trump to the hilt 鈥� including the war 鈥� and has identified no issue on which he disagreed with the president.
Trump reiterated his support for Fuller on Monday night and then again on Tuesday.
鈥淭o the Great Patriots in Georgia鈥檚 14th Congressional District: GET OUT AND VOTE TODAY for a fantastic Candidate, Clay Fuller, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement!鈥� the president wrote on social media.
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