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Georgia special election

Georgia special election refers to any special election held in the U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Georgia special election refers to any special election held in the U.S. state of Georgia to fill a vacant public office before the end of a regular term. In Georgia, special federal elections often use a single all-candidate ballot, with a runoff if no candidate wins a majority. Recent examples in 2026 included special elections for Georgia’s 13th and 14th congressional districts.

Election system

Georgia special elections may be held on a single ballot with all candidates listed together rather than through separate party primaries. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two candidates advance to a runoff.

Recent federal special elections

In 2026, Georgia held special elections for the U.S. House seats in the 13th and 14th congressional districts. The 14th District election was triggered by Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation, while the 13th District election followed the death of Representative David Scott.

State-level special elections

Georgia has also used special elections for statewide offices. In 2025, special elections were held for Public Service Commission districts 2 and 3, with party primaries, runoff rules, and separate qualifying deadlines set by the Secretary of State.

Political significance

Recent Georgia special elections have attracted national attention because they can affect control of legislative seats and demonstrate turnout and partisan trends in competitive districts. The 2026 14th District race drew particular attention because of Donald Trump’s endorsement and the runoff outcome.

Key facts

  • Special elections in Georgia are used to fill vacancies before a regular term ends.
  • For recent U.S. House special elections, all candidates were placed on a single ballot.
  • If no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff was held between the top two finishers.
  • In Georgia’s 14th District special election, Clay Fuller won the April 7, 2026 runoff after a March 10 all-candidate election.
  • In Georgia’s 13th District special election, the special general election was scheduled for July 28, 2026, with a runoff set for August 25, 2026 if needed.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may be interested because Georgia special elections can affect control of the U.S. Congress and are often covered as part of Canadian political and international news coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Georgia special election?
It is an election held in Georgia to fill a vacancy before the normal end of a term, such as a vacant congressional or state office.
How do Georgia special elections work?
For recent federal special elections, all candidates appear on one ballot. If no one gets over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates advance to a runoff.
What caused the 2026 Georgia 14th District special election?
It was triggered by Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation from Congress effective January 5, 2026.
What caused the 2026 Georgia 13th District special election?
It was triggered by the death of U.S. Representative David Scott.
Did Georgia hold statewide special elections recently?
Yes. Special elections for Public Service Commission districts 2 and 3 were held in 2025, with the special election set for November 4, 2025.
Are Georgia special elections always run the same way?
No. Procedures can vary by office, but recent federal races used a nonpartisan-style all-candidate ballot with runoff rules, while some state offices have separate qualifying and primary steps.

References

  1. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-s1-5742711/georgia-special-election-mtg-trump-fuller-moore
    Supports: Explains the 2026 Georgia 14th District special election process, all-candidate ballot, runoff rule, and political context.
  2. Federal Election Commission — https://www.fec.gov/updates/georgia-special-elections-reporting-13th-congressional-district-2026/
    Supports: Gives the official schedule for the 2026 Georgia 13th Congressional District special general election and runoff.
  3. Georgia Secretary of State — https://sos.ga.gov/news/secretary-raffensperger-issues-call-special-election-public-service-commission-districts-2-and
    Supports: Provides official notice of the 2025 special elections for Public Service Commission districts 2 and 3, including dates and runoff rules.
  4. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/election/2026/results/georgia-house-14-special-election
    Supports: Reports the 2026 Georgia 14th District special election outcome and runoff context.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Georgia's_13th_congressional_district_special_election
    Supports: Summarizes the 2026 Georgia 13th District special election trigger and election structure.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Georgia's_14th_congressional_district_special_election
    Supports: Summarizes the 2026 Georgia 14th District special election trigger, election dates, and runoff result.