The announcement by State Senator Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) on Monday that he would not be qualifying for another term leaves the door wide open for the 53rd Senate District.

Over the twenty-two years that Mullis has served as State Senator, Mullis has faced opposition from members of his own party, and twice from a Democrat.  In 2006 and 2008, Bruce Coker, a Walker County Sheriff’s Deputy, ran as a Democrat and was handily defeated by Mullis.  Coker has since switched his political affiliation to Republican.  In 2010, Mullis garnered 68% of the vote against two little-known Republican challengers.  After running unopposed in 2012, Mullis faced off with Thomas Dooley in 2014 and won the GOP Primary with 69% of the vote.

Then in 2016, Mullis faced a challenge from Trion resident Lanny Thomas in the Republican Primary.  Thomas, an educator who had served previously as Mayor of Trion, lost to Mullis by over 10,000 votes.  Thomas has since been elected Mayor of Trion again.  Mullis ran unopposed again in 2018.

In 2020 Mullis faced perhaps the most serious challenge since he had lost his first election to Democrat Sonny Hudgins over two decades ago.  Two Republicans challenged the senator – former State Rep. Colton Moore and insurance agent Todd Noblitt.  In the 2020 race, Mullis only garnered 54% of the vote – the fewest votes he had received in a Republican Primary.   Mullis hasn’t had a Democratic challenger in over 14 years.

After Mullis’ announcement on Monday that he would not seek another term, his former challenger Colton Moore from Dade County posted a picture on social media with the caption that read, “Pull the signs out of the garage, we have a race to run.”  Moore qualified to run for the position on Monday evening (See related story HERE)

WZQZ News has reached out to some of Mullis’ former challengers to find out if any of them have plans to run for the seat.  (See related story HERE) Qualifying ends this Friday at noon.