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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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A Democratic politician running to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene has revealed his policy plans to help Georgians who he said "are tired of the circus" caused by Republican politics.
Speaking to Newsweek, cattle farmer Shawn Harris also said people in Georgia want politicians who will work "on the kitchen table issues impacting their daily lives."
Newsweek reached out to the Georgia Republican Party by email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
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At least 22 people are vying to take on Georgia's 14th district after Greene left Congress earlier in January, having announced her resignation following a public split with the president.
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The election to replace her, set for March 10 by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, comes as the GOP seeks to protect its slim five-seat majority in the House of Representatives ahead of the November midterms. The seat will likely be filled by a Republican as the majority of candidates throwing their hat into the ring are Republicans and the district is deeply conservative.
Harris is one of two Democrats running for the seat and he told Newsweek about his plans for job creation, improved health care and benefits for farmers and veterans.
He said he planned "to bring high paying generational jobs back to" the district "through the defense and aerospace industries.
"I’m going to increase access to health care by expanding telehealth services, incentives for doctors and nurses to practice in rural areas, ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicare and Medicaid are sufficiently funded to ensure affordability and to protect our veterans, seniors and children," he said. "I’m going to fight for a Farm Bill that focuses on small and medium-sized farms instead of corporate farms while also including space for organic and alternative farming, farmers markets and other niche farming."
Harris served 40 years in the military, including as a combat infantry commander in Afghanistan, and retired as Brigadier General, according to his website biography. He and wife of 35 years, Karla, returned to Georgia to live on the farm. They raised five children.
It won't be the first time Harris has made a bid for Congress. He ran against Greene in November 2024 but lost, winning 36 percent of the vote to Greene's 64 percent. While the area is conservative, Harris is undeterred by the challenge before him.
"I received more votes in 2024 than any Democrat in 30 years because Republicans around here are tired of their party’s antics, tired of Washington ignoring what’s happening here," he said. "Marjorie at least had her fans, but this new crop doesn't have much to offer. People know I’m running as a Democrat, but they know me as a Georgian and retired general raising cattle down the road."
To gain more votes than he did in November 2024, he said "we just have to get the word out better."
"Marjorie had a lot more money than we did, and I couldn’t reach everybody," he said. We’re in a lot better shape this time, and our competition is starting way behind us instead of way in front.
"Every waking minute I’m not with my wife or the cows, I’m out talking to hard-working people around here about the difference it could make to have somebody who understands what Georgians are going through up in Washington."
Indeed, with $1,292,000 in his campaign's coffers, Harris has raised the most money so far out of all the candidates running, and he told Newsweek the average contribution to his campaign is in tens of dollars, from individual voters.
"People are tired of the circus, he said. "They want people who will work to get to yes on the kitchen table issues impacting their daily lives. Our average contribution is just $21. We are supported by real people who are looking for real leadership."
Candidates from both parties will run on the same ballot. If no one wins a majority, the two will face each other in a run-off election on April 7.
But a run-off isn't something Harris is considering: "The results of the 2024 elections have made things worse for Northwest Georgia, not better. As a veteran, I don’t leave a mission unfinished."
"We are running to win this race, period," he said.
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