Voters in Georgia’s 53rd State Senate District will soon decide who will fill the seat vacated by Senator Colton Moore, who is seeking higher office following the departure of former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The 53rd District includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and northern Floyd counties. Moore’s decision to run for Congress has set the stage for a special election, though Governor Brian Kemp has not yet officially called the race. The election will be scheduled once Moore’s resignation is formally recognized.
Several candidates have already announced their intentions to run. Republicans Blake Elsberry and Lanny Thomas entered the race following Moore’s announcement in November. On the Democratic side, Jack Zibluk, who had previously declared a challenge to Moore, remains in the contest and is now seeking the open seat.
While only three candidates are currently in the field, additional contenders are expected to announce once the special election date and qualifying period are finalized. Election officials anticipate heightened interest in the race given the district’s broad geographic reach and the circumstances surrounding the vacancy.