Lanny Thomas was officially sworn in Thursday to serve in the Georgia State Senate representing District 53.
Thomas called it a special day for his family and for Northwest Georgia, saying it is an honor he does not take lightly.
In a statement following the ceremony, Thomas said District 53 now has strong leadership and a voice at the Capitol. He thanked supporters, family, and friends who joined him in Atlanta, and said he is ready to represent all residents, including families, workers, small businesses, and local communities.
Thomas also reminded voters that another election is coming up on May 19th, encouraging residents to make a plan to vote as he seeks to continue serving in the next term.
He said the goal moving forward is to keep Northwest Georgia moving forward together.
Chattooga County voters delivered decisive Republican victories in both of Tuesday’s special election runoff races, with Clay Fuller winning the U.S. House District 14 contest and Lanny Thomas capturing the Georgia State Senate District 53 seat. Official Georgia results show Fuller won Chattooga County with 2,546 votes, or 69.81 percent, compared to 1,101 votes, or 30.19 percent, for Democrat Shawn Harris. In the Senate race, Thomas defeated John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk with 2,686 votes, or 74.38 percent, to 925 votes, or 25.62 percent.
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.
Tomorrow, voters will return to the polls to decide who will replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in the United States House of Representatives and Colton Moore in the Georgia State Senate.
Voters in the 14th Congressional District in Georgia, which includes Chattooga County, will be deciding between former Lookout Mountain District Attorney Clay Fuller, a Republican, and retired Brigadier General and cattle farmer Shawn Harris, a Democrat. Voters in the 53rd State Senate District, which also includes Chattooga County, will be deciding between Republican Lanny Thomas, the former Mayor of Trion, and Lookout Mountain educator Democrat Jack Zibluck.
Voting will take place in local precincts. There will be no voting at the Chattooga County Registrars Office. Voting will be from 7 AM until 7 PM.
Be sure to bring a picture ID when you come to vote.
Today is the last day to vote early in the runoff election to decide who will replace Colton Moore in the state senate for the 53rd District and Marjorie Taylor Greene in the United States House of Representatives for the 14th Georgia Congressional District.
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.
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.
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.
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.
