ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Voters in northwest Georgia’s 14th congressional district are taking the first step in what could be a lengthy process to choose who will represent them in Washington, D.C.

Tuesday’s special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress is just the first step in a series of ballot casting that will last through November and possibly December. Initially, the special election drew more than 20 contenders, but in the past few weeks, that number has been whittled down to 17 — 12 Republicans, three Democrats, one independent and one Libertarian.

With so many candidates in the race, an April 7 runoff is all but assured. The winner will fill out the rest of Greene’s unexpired term, which runs through the end of this year.

However, if the winner wants to run for reelection in Georgia’s nationally watched 2026 midterms, he or she will have to run in the May 19 statewide primary. If a runoff is needed, it will be held on June 16.

Then, it’s onto the Nov. 3 general election, whose winner will serve in Congress for a full, two-year term. A Dec. 1 runoff will happen if needed.

Last November, Greene — who was elected to the northwest Georgia in 2020 and overwhelmingly re-elected since — said she was resigning over her disillusionment with the nation’s current political climate, stemming from a recent political split with President Donald Trump.

According to the most recent, 2026 map, counties that are fully or mostly entirely in the 14th district are Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding (most of the county), Polk, Walker, Whitfield and part of Pickens counties.

The district’s major cities and towns include:

• Whitfield County: Dalton, Tunnel Hill, Varnell
• Floyd County: Rome
• Gordon County: Calhoun
• Catoosa County: Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold
• Walker County: LaFayette, Rossville, Chickamauga
• Polk County: Cedartown, Rockmart
• Murray County: Chatsworth
• Paulding County (portion): Dallas and surrounding areas in western/northern Paulding
• Haralson / Chattooga / Dade / Pickens portions: smaller cities and towns within those county areas, but not the entire county in Pickens’ case.

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