RINGGOLD, Georgia —

Republican candidate Clay Fuller has provided House Speaker Mike Johnson some much-needed relief as the party maintains a fragile majority in Congress. Backed by former President Donald Trump, Fuller won a special election on Tuesday against Democrat Sean Harris to fill a vacant seat in Georgia’s strongly Republican 14th Congressional District.

The seat became open after Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned early in January amid a public dispute with Trump, leaving a year remaining on her term. This special election came at a crucial time, with Republicans holding a narrow 218-214 advantage in the House. They were closely watching the results, especially in a district that Trump had dominated by 37 points in the 2024 presidential election.

Fuller, the local district attorney and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard since 2009, expressed the importance of this election. He told FOX News Digital that it’s vital for their agenda to have reinforcements in Congress.

He noted, “I think the voters of Georgia’s 14th understand the significance. They are eager to send a representative who aligns with MAGA principles to the Capitol.”

When asked about the potential for lower turnout among MAGA supporters in an election without Trump on the ballot, Fuller remained optimistic, saying, “I believe Trump voters will show up to ensure they have someone fighting for them.”

Sean Harris, a retired Army brigadier general and cattle farmer, emphasized his distance from his own party. “I’m a Democrat, but I have no affiliation with the party,” Harris pointed out. He added, “My opponent, Clay, can’t say that. He essentially sold his soul to President Trump.”

In a prior election in early March involving 17 candidates, including 12 Republicans, Harris narrowly defeated Fuller, leading to this runoff due to no candidate securing over 50% of the votes.

The district spans from Atlanta’s suburbs to the northwestern edge of Georgia, near Alabama and Tennessee. Greene’s departure, which stemmed from her public struggles with Trump over various issues, left the seat open. Fuller remarked that the voters he talked to during his campaign are more concerned about future challenges than past controversies.

When questioned about his communications with Greene, Fuller mentioned he has reached out to her and is keeping those discussions private. Meanwhile, Harris, reflecting on her past campaign against Greene in 2024, stated she has no plans to confront Greene again, acknowledging that Greene’s name holds considerable influence in the district.