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April 7, 2026

Election Night Returns – WZQZ – April 7, 2026

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Update 8:13 PM:

Fuller Leads 14th District, Thomas Ahead In State Senate Race As Returns Continue

WZQZ News — Updated election returns from Tuesday night show Republican Clay Fuller now leading Democrat Shawn Harris in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District special runoff, while Republican Lanny Thomas continues to hold a strong lead over Democrat John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk in the State Senate District 53 race.

In the 14th Congressional District contest, the latest numbers show Fuller with 26,043 votes, or 52.02 percent, compared to Harris with 24,016 votes, or 47.98 percent.

In the State Senate District 53 runoff, Thomas is ahead with 6,555 votes, or 64.86 percent, while Zibluk has received 3,552 votes, or 35.14 percent.

While the state results page shows all localities listed in the summary, not all precincts are necessarily fully reported yet, meaning vote totals could still change as additional returns are processed.

Election officials will continue updating results throughout the evening.

Earlier this evening:

Election returns are coming in tonight across Georgia’s 14th Congressional District and State Senate District 53, and the early numbers are showing a split between Chattooga County and the district as a whole. In the 14th District congressional runoff, Republican Clay Fuller is leading in Chattooga County, while Democrat Shawn Harris is holding a narrow district-wide advantage in the latest unofficial results.

According to the numbers shown in the latest update, Harris has 51.48 percent of the vote district-wide with 16,806 votes, compared to Fuller’s 48.52 percent and 15,840 votes. In Chattooga County, however, local returns show Fuller with a substantial lead over Harris. The latest district-wide tally displayed 7 of 10 localities reporting in the congressional race.

In the State Senate District 53 runoff, Republican Lanny Thomas is leading Democrat John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk in the latest unofficial returns. The posted totals show Thomas with 61.09 percent, or 4,765 votes, compared to Zibluk’s 38.91 percent, or 3,035 votes. The latest update showed 4 of 5 localities reporting in that race.

Both contests are being closely watched in Northwest Georgia, with vote totals expected to continue shifting as additional precincts report.

These results remain unofficial until certified by election officials.

April 7, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Election Day Underway in Chattooga County for Special Election Runoff

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Today is Election Day in Chattooga County as voters head to the polls for a Special Election runoff to fill unexpired terms in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate.

March 31, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sharon Evans Appointed Walker County Tax Commissioner Following Retirement

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Sharon Evans has been appointed to serve as the new Walker County Tax Commissioner, following the retirement of longtime commissioner Carolyn Walker, who stepped down last week after more than 25 years of service to focus on her health.

March 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Early Voting for Special Election Runoff Starts Today

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Advance Voting for the April 7, 2026 Special Election Runoff to fill the unexpired terms of Marjorie Taylor Greene (US House of Representatives, District 14) and Colton More (State Senate, District 53) will begin today, Monday, March 30, 2026 at 8:30 AM and end at 5 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Daily hours are 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. All Advance Voting will take place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.

On Election Day, April 7, 2026, the polls are open from 7 AM – 7 PM. All Election Day voting takes place at the assigned polling locations, not the Registrars Office. Polling places in Chattooga County include: Gore Fire Hall, Lyerly Community Center, old Menlo City Hall, Chattooga County Civic Center and the Trion Recreation Department.

Government issued photo ID is required. The registration deadline for this election was March 9, 2026.

March 29, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Lanny Thomas Shares Health Update Following Serious Medical Emergency

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State Senate candidate Lanny Thomas is providing a positive health update after suffering a life-threatening medical emergency earlier this month, saying he is improving daily and plans to continue his campaign.

March 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Absentee Ballots for April 7th Runoff Election Available Until March 27

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Voters in Chattooga County will be asked to return to the polls on April 7, 2026 to vote in two runoff elections. The runoffs were a result of no candidate getting more than 50% of the vote in the Special Election for the Georgia 53rd Senate District and the 14th U.S. Congressional District races.

March 24, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Fuller, Harris Clash Ahead of April 7 Runoff in Georgia’s 14th District

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Voters in Northwest Georgia are set for a high-stakes runoff election on April 7, as Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris compete to fill the seat vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene in the 14th Congressional District.

March 19, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Update Released on Health of State Senate Candidate Lanny Thomas

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An update has been released on the health and campaign status of Republican State Senate candidate and former Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas following a recent medical emergency.

March 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Democratic State Senate District 53 candidate Jack Zibluk Suspends Campaign

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Democratic State Senate District 53 candidate Jack Zibluk has announced he is suspending campaign activities following the recent medical emergency involving his opponent, Republican candidate Lanny Thomas.

March 15, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia State Senator Resigns To Focus On Lieutenant Governor Campaign

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A Georgia state senator has stepped down from office to focus on her campaign for lieutenant governor.

Democratic Sen. Nabilah Parkes, who represented part of Gwinnett County, announced her resignation in a public statement Friday. Parkes first launched a campaign for Georgia insurance and fire safety commissioner in January before shifting to the lieutenant governor’s race on March 5.

Parkes now joins state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs and Richard Wright in the Democratic field for lieutenant governor. In her resignation letter to Gov. Brian Kemp, Parkes sharply criticized the Georgia Legislature, calling it “a place where good ideas go to die and where extremists continue to attack our freedoms.” Georgia’s primary election is scheduled for May 19.