Firebrand state senator running for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat
A northwest Georgia state senator said on social media Monday that he plans to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, said in a video on X that he is running to “continue the fight against radical left lunatics.”
It’s unclear if Moore will seek to fill Greene’s unexpired term, run for a full term that would begin in 2027 or if he will resign from the Senate during his campaign. State law bars Georgia lawmakers from fundraising during the legislative session. Moore did not immediately return a request for comment.
Following a public split with President Donald Trump, Greene made a surprise announcement last month that she would not seek another term. Greene had once been Trump’s most loyal advocate in the House, but she had become increasingly critical of some of his policies. The final straw was her support for releasing files related to the investigation of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which Trump responded to by branding her a “traitor.”
Greene’s last day is Jan. 5, and Gov. Brian Kemp could set a special election as soon as February to fill her seat for the remaining year of her term. Because Georgia’s 14th Congressional District is heavily Republican, it is unlikely a Democrat could win either the special election or when voters head to the polls in November to determine who will serve a full two-year term in Congress.
Moore made a name for himself in the Georgia Legislature sparring with then-House Speaker David Ralston in 2019 while serving in that chamber. That rift led to a physical altercation with House staff earlier this year that resulted in Moore, who had moved to the Senate, being arrested for “willful obstruction of law enforcement officers,” a misdemeanor.
Senate Republican leadership ousted Moore from the caucus in 2023, saying he violated multiple caucus rules when he berated his colleagues for not launching an off-session investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis when a grand jury indicted Trump on charges ofelection interference. That case was dismissed last month.
Moore indicated he will campaign on a pro-Trump platform. But there will likely be a crowded field of GOP contenders.
Even before Greene’s resignation, businessman Jeff Criswell said he was running for the seat as a centrist Republican. Former Federal Emergency Management Administration employee Star Black has also been campaigning for the seat.
Marine Corps veteran Christian Hurd and Jim Tully, a Republican Party leader who also works for Greene, both launched campaigns after her resignation announcement.
About the Authors
Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
