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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 14th Georgia district remains solidly GOP

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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 14th Georgia district remains solidly GOP


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Northwest Georgia’s 14th congressional district took center stage in American politics late Friday night with the astonishing news that U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning.

Citing a disillusionment with the nation’s current political climate after a stunning break with President Donald Trump, Greene said her resignation would take effect Jan. 5, 2026.

READ: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s full statement

Georgia’s 14th congressional district stretches from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, metropolitan area in an east/south arc toward toward metro Atlanta’s outlying suburbs.

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The district’s major population centers are Dalton (Whitfield County); Rome (Floyd County); Cartersville (Bartow County area near Paulding County); and portions of Paulding County (Dallas).

The district includes most, if not all, of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, Whitfield, and part of Pickens counties.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: This Sunday’s On The Record With Atlanta News First will feature an in-depth look at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and its impact on Georgia and the nation. Watch On The Record With Atlanta News First at 11 a.m.

While mostly white, the district has notable Hispanic populations concentrated around Dalton with its carpet-industry workforce.

Its economy is centering around manufacturing (particularly in Dalton’s carpet/rug industry); agriculture, and small business.

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The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates the district solidly Republican, as does Ballotpedia. Historically GOP, it was represented by Tom Graves before his retirement in 2020.

Greene won the district initially in that election, winning a crowded GOP primary in a runoff before winning outright in November 2020.

She won reelection in 2022 – again, facing several GOP challengers – and 2024, where no Republican opposed her in the primary.

Arguably once President Trump’s staunchest ally in Congress, Greene’s relationship with the now-47th U.S. president has been deteriorating in recent weeks.

Georgia’s nationally watched midterms in the 2026 primary is May 19, 2026. Gov. Brian Kemp may decide to call for a special election before that date, or could simply let the seat remain vacant until the state’s primary rolls around.

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LATEST COVERAGE

  • Here’s how Marjorie Taylor Greene will be replaced in Congress
  • Looking at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s past GOP challengers in her district

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.

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Mother of bystander teen killed in police chase sues Georgia DPS

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Mother of bystander teen killed in police chase sues Georgia DPS


The mother of a metro Atlanta teenager killed as a bystander during a police chase is now taking her fight to court, hoping to change pursuit policies in Georgia.

What we know:

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Nearly a year after Cooper Schoenke died in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood, his mother, Kate Schoenke, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Georgia Department of Public Safety and Faduma Mohamed, the woman accused of causing the crash.

“This is about accountability,” Kate Schoenke said.

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The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, just weeks before the first anniversary of her son’s death.

Investigators say Mohamed led state troopers on a high-speed chase that began on Interstate 20, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour before exiting onto Moreland Avenue.

According to investigators, dash camera video shows Mohamed running a red light at Moreland and McLendon avenues and crashing into Cooper Schoenke’s car, killing him.

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The lawsuit alleges a state trooper acted with reckless disregard by continuing the pursuit off the interstate and into congested city streets and busy intersections.

While Schoenke said the driver behind the wheel, who was out on bond at the time,  is largely to blame, she believes state troopers should also be held accountable.

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She is seeking $1 million in the lawsuit. 

Mohamed remains behind bars awaiting her day in court.

What we don’t know:

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It is currently unclear when the case will head to trial or if the Georgia Department of Public Safety will seek to have the lawsuit dismissed based on sovereign immunity. 

Mohamed remains in jail, but a specific date for her criminal trial has not been released.

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What they’re saying:

“What we want is a change, and if we’ve got to use the purse strings to do that, that’s what we’re doing,” Kate Schoenke said.

Before filing the lawsuit, Schoenke said the state was given a chance to come to the table but declined, saying it was not responsible for her son’s death.

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“To say that they have no responsibility whatsoever and a high-speed chase through a highly populated, dense community of Atlanta that ended in tragedy just does not make sense,” she said.

She said her goal is not the money, but to change how and when high-speed chases happen in Georgia.

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“I’m not saying don’t pursue, but to pursue it 100 miles an hour, 90 miles an hour, 80 miles an hour. No one’s even going to hear the siren coming at you,” she said.

The other side:

The Georgia Department of Public Safety said it does not comment on pending litigation.

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Mohamed’s attorney said he had no comment.

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The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the wrongful death lawsuit filed in DeKalb County, interviews with Kate Schoenke, and previous reporting on the March 2023 crash.

Little Five PointsNewsPolice ChasesCrime and Public Safety



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Special election set for Georgia Senate District 7 seat in Gwinnett County

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Special election set for Georgia Senate District 7 seat in Gwinnett County


A special election has been set for voters in northern Gwinnett County to fill a vacant Georgia State Senate seat.

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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced this week that a special election for Senate District 7 will be held on May 19, following the resignation of former Sen. Nabilah Parkes. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff election is scheduled for June 16.

District 7 includes parts of northern Gwinnett County, covering communities such as Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford and Braselton, along with areas near Hog Mountain and Puckett.

Candidates looking to run must qualify later this month at the Secretary of State’s Elections Division office in downtown Atlanta. Qualifying will take place March 26, March 27 and March 30, with a $400 qualifying fee.

The deadline to register to vote in the special election is April 20, and early in-person voting is set to begin April 27.

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Special election called for Georgia Senate District 7 following resignation of Nabilah Parkes

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Special election called for Georgia Senate District 7 following resignation of Nabilah Parkes


Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has announced a special election to fill the vacant Georgia State Senate District 7 seat, following the resignation of Sen. Nabilah Parkes. 

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The election is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2026, in Gwinnett County. 

Should a runoff be necessary, it will be held on June 16, 2026.

Candidates seeking to qualify for the special election can do so at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Division, located at 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower Suite 802, Atlanta, GA 30334. Qualifying will occur during the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, March 26, 2026: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Friday, March 27, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Monday, March 30, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The qualifying fee for candidates has been set at $400.00.

For voters wishing to participate in the special election, the last day to register is Monday, April 20, 2026. 

Advance in-person absentee voting will begin on Monday, April 27, 2026.

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Further details and updates will be provided by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office as the election approaches.



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