Shawn Harris Eyes Open Georgia Seat After Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns — Military Cred Could Win Swing Voters

Retired Brig. Gen. Shawn Harris had been preparing to challenge Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in next November’s contest — until Greene abruptly announced her resignation. With the seat open, Harris is now focused on who Republicans will nominate and how he might appeal to swing voters in a heavily Republican district.

Greene’s Departure and the GOP Choice

In November, Greene said she would leave Congress rather than face a challenger reportedly backed by the president after clashing with Donald Trump on issues including Iran policy, health care and the release of the Epstein files. Her exit leaves Republicans with a strategic decision: replace her with another far-right firebrand or nominate a more traditional conservative — a choice that could alienate voters on either side.

Harris’s Run and Political Context

Harris, a Democrat and former soldier turned rancher, ran competitively in Georgia’s 14th District in 2024. He received roughly 135,000 votes — a district record — and finished three points ahead of Trump in that race, though he lost the seat overall. The Cook Political Report still rates the district R+19, meaning any Democrat would need to attract some Republican voters to win.

“I don’t care who it is, but when we do our analysis — because Marjorie Taylor Greene was so far out there — we don’t see the Republican party, Donald Trump or the local Republican party getting somebody that’s closer to the center,” Harris said. “Because if you get somebody that’s closer to the center, then guess what? You got Shawn Harris.”

National Security and Oversight

Harris draws on decades of military experience — including command roles in Afghanistan and Liberia and a final posting as a military attaché in Israel — to make oversight a central argument. He criticized Congress for ceding war powers and failing to set clear parameters for military action, pointing to recent attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as examples.

“Are we actually in a war or are we about to get in a war in the Caribbean?” Harris asked. “If we are in a war, we need to go through the step for Congress to declare that we’re in a war. Congress needs to ask — what is the end state? How do we know we actually have met our mission or won the war?”

Local Issues: Economy, Homelessness and Agriculture

Despite national security concerns, Harris says most voters in his district are focused on pocketbook issues. He criticized national leaders for downplaying inflation and emphasized the need to lower grocery costs and ease the strain on middle-class families facing higher bills.

At campaign events Harris collects canned goods to donate to local food pantries and warns that rural homelessness is often overlooked because federal programs are designed for urban environments. He said small-town homeless residents may be sleeping in woods or abandoned buildings and receive insufficient help.

As a rancher raising beef cattle in the district, Harris also warned that agriculture is in a recession and that Georgia’s top industry deserves more attention from elected officials. He contrasted his long-term ties to the land with what he described as Greene’s more transient relationship to the district: “When you invest in a farm… you are here for the long haul.”

What Comes Next

With Republicans deciding how to replace Greene, Harris believes his centrist message and military background could make him a viable option for voters uneasy with extremes on either side. But overcoming an R+19 rating will require persuading enough Republicans and independents to break with party lines in a competitive, closely watched race.