Who are the declared Republican candidates running in Georgia's 14th District special election and what are their backgrounds?
Executive summary
A crowded Republican field is coalescing around Georgia’s 14th Congressional District special election after Marjorie Taylor Greene’s announced resignation, with multiple candidates publicly declaring runs and many more filing paperwork; locally reported declared Republicans include Jim Tully, Jeff Criswell, Christian Hurd and Newnan attorney Jared Craig, with others — including state Sen. Colton Moore and several recent FEC filers — positioning for the March special election [1] [2] [3]. The race is likely to be fragmented — more than a dozen Republicans have filed with the FEC and state special-election rules put every candidate on one ballot with a runoff if no one clears 50% — creating a volatile, large-field contest [3] [4].
1. Declared candidates named in local reporting
Local outlets list several Republicans who have publicly declared or been reported as running in the special election: Jim Tully, identified as chairman of the GA‑14 GOP committee; businessman Jeff Criswell; Marine veteran Christian Hurd; and Newnan attorney Jared Craig, who recently announced his candidacy though Craig had not yet filed FEC paperwork at the time of reporting [1]. Separately, Fox 5 Atlanta reported that state Sen. Colton Moore announced plans to run in the special election following Greene’s resignation [2].
2. Candidate backgrounds: what the reporting shows
Jim Tully is described in reporting as the county GOP chair — a party insider whose role as GA‑14 GOP committee chairman suggests organizational ties inside the district [1]. Jeff Criswell is identified in local coverage as a businessman; the reporting does not elaborate further on Criswell’s business background or previous public offices [1]. Christian Hurd is framed as a Marine veteran who has created an exploratory committee and is finishing military service while preparing a campaign; reporting notes Hurd was born and raised in the 14th District [5] [1]. Jared Craig is profiled as a Newnan attorney who previously challenged an incumbent in a 2022 Republican primary and used social media to frame his candidacy as responding to local voters’ unease after Greene’s departure; Craig had not filed FEC paperwork as of the Times‑Herald story [1].
3. Other reported entrants and the paperwork trail
Beyond the locally highlighted names, reporting and public records show a much longer list of potential and filed Republican contenders: Center Square reported that roughly twenty Republicans had filed paperwork with the FEC to run for the 14th District, though that filing list can include candidates planning to run in 2026 generally and may not perfectly map to the special-election slate [3]. Ballotpedia and Wikipedia aggregations also name additional figures who have signaled interest or filed for the district in 2026 contests, including a mix of former candidates and local officials; however, those sources note candidate lists are fluid and may be incomplete [6] [4] [7].
4. Election mechanics that shape the field and strategy
Georgia law for special elections in this circumstance places all candidates on a single ballot with a top‑two runoff if no one receives an outright majority; Governor Kemp is required to set the special‑election timetable after the vacancy, and provisional dates reported include mid‑March with an April runoff if needed — dynamics that favor name recognition and local organizational strength in a crowded field [4] [8]. The large number of FEC filings and declared bids increases the likelihood no single Republican will clear 50 percent in the special, making runoff planning a crucial campaign calculation [3] [4].
5. What remains unclear and why it matters
Reporting shows gaps and rapid change: some campaigns have announced but not yet completed FEC registration or updated websites, and aggregator sites disclaim incomplete lists, so any snapshot of “declared” Republicans is provisional [1] [7] [9]. That uncertainty matters because ballot access, fundraising disclosures and formal filings will clarify who is an active, vote‑seeking candidate versus who is exploring or positioning for the 2026 regular election — distinctions voters and reporters need to watch as the special‑election calendar firmizes [9] [6].