Shawn Harris makes his case to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia's 14th District

Out on his farm, the schedule isn't set by a campaign calendar, it's set by the cattle.

As he prepares to treat his herd, Shawn Harris moves to the rhythm of farm life, measuring deworming doses. It's a reminder, he says, that responsibility comes first, whether on the farm or on the ballot.  Though he confesses, politics is harder.

Harris, a Democrat, is once again running for Congress in Georgia's 14th District, a deeply conservative region represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January this year. 

He lost to Greene by roughly 30 points in 2024. 

Now, in a special election, he's back, with higher name recognition and a message aimed at voters across party lines.

A retired brigadier general with a 40-year military career, Harris says his life experience shapes both his worldview and his campaign.

"The hardest thing I ever had to do wasn't combat," he said. "It was notifying families their loved ones had been killed."

That experience, he says, informs his caution about military conflict and his frustration with what he calls "wars of choice."

Harris enlisted in the U.S. Marines at 17, later graduating from Tuskegee University and the U.S. Army War College. He led infantry in Afghanistan and rose to the rank of brigadier general before retiring.

Now, he's trying to translate that leadership into a political upset.

Running against Republican candidate Clay Fuller, a Trump-endorsed Air Force veteran, Harris is openly courting Republicans and independents, arguing that winning requires peeling off a meaningful share of GOP voters.

"I need about 20% of Republicans," he said. "Not to become Democrats—but because they feel left behind."

His strategy leans heavily on retail politics:  meeting voters face-to-face at local stores, sharing his personal phone number, and emphasizing accessibility over ideology.

Supporters describe him as a fighter but Harris resists the label of politician.

"I don't want to be one," he said.

Instead, he frames his campaign around service and term limits, pledging to serve no more than six years if elected. 

His policy priorities include job creation, a fully funded farm bill, and expanding access to healthcare in a region where many residents travel long distances for basic services.

Despite sharp political differences, Harris notes occasional points of agreement with Greene, particularly on healthcare and skepticism of certain foreign conflicts, though he criticizes what he sees as her evolving political persona.

His toughest criticism, however, is reserved for his current opponent.  Harris argues that true leadership requires independence from party loyalty, even when it means breaking with President Trump.

For Harris, the contrast is simple:  leadership rooted in service versus politics driven by allegiance.

Back on the farm, that philosophy feels more tangible.

"The cows don't care what party you're in," he said. "They just want to be treated right."

In a district where politics can be loud and deeply partisan, Harris is betting that message will cut through the noise and persuade enough voters to cross party lines.

The winner of the runoff April 7 will serve out the remainder of Greene's term through the end of this year.  

This won't be the end of this political contest: Harris and Fuller are expected to advance to a primary in May and go head-to-head once again in the midterm elections in November to decide who will serve the full term.