Northwest Georgia GOP Congressional Primary Heads to Runoff
ATLANTA — Two Republican candidates will face off in a runoff election for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s primary, according to preliminary election results.
The race to replace the outgoing Representative drew a crowded field of seven candidates vying for the solidly Republican seat that covers northwest Georgia. With all precincts reporting, the top two vote-getters fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
Former state legislator Sarah Mitchell led the field with 38.2% of the vote, followed closely by businessman Robert Chen with 32.1%. The remaining five candidates split the rest of the vote, with third-place finisher David Torres receiving 12.3%.
Unexpected Campaign Departures
The primary race saw several surprising developments in its final weeks. Two candidates withdrew from the race unexpectedly in February, citing personal reasons and family obligations.
County Commissioner Lisa Andrews dropped out on February 15, just three weeks before the election. Her campaign cited “unforeseen family circumstances” in a statement to supporters.
Military veteran James Sullivan also suspended his campaign on February 22, telling supporters he needed to focus on his wife’s medical treatment. Both candidates’ names remained on the ballot due to early voting already underway.
Runoff Campaign Begins
Mitchell and Chen now have four weeks to campaign before the April 8 runoff election. Both candidates focused their primary campaigns on conservative priorities including border security, government spending cuts, and supporting local agriculture.
Mitchell, who served three terms in the state House of Representatives, emphasized her legislative experience during the primary. “I’ve proven I can deliver results for northwest Georgia families,” she said in a statement Tuesday night.
Chen, a small business owner who moved to the district in 2019, positioned himself as a political outsider. His campaign highlighted his background in the private sector and opposition to government regulations.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democratic nominee Angela Rodriguez in the November general election. Rodriguez ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Georgia’s 14th District includes parts of Cherokee, Floyd, Polk, and Haralson counties. The seat has been held by Republicans since 2013, and former President Donald Trump carried the district by 35 percentage points in 2020.
Early voting for the runoff election begins March 25. District voters will also decide several local races including county commission seats and school board positions in the April election.
Sources: Georgia Recorder
