Georgia runoff to decide state senator in a deep-red district where a Democrat made gains

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) — A Democrat who drew national attention for her better-than-expected performance in a Georgia special election is facing a GOP businessman Tuesday for a state Senate seat in a heavily Republican district.

Democrat Debra Shigley and Republican Jason Dickerson are competing in a runoff after no candidate in a seven-person field won a majority to take the seat outright last month.

Shigley, the only Democrat in the August special election, won 40% of the vote. Dickerson was the highest vote-getter out of six Republicans, winning 17.4%.

They are vying Tuesday to replace former Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach, who was drafted by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. treasurer. Beach won the seat north of Atlanta with more than 70% of the vote in 2024.

Shigley's finish in the August election drew attention from Democrats nationally, who say it was a sign of Democratic enthusiasm and frustration with Trump's policies. On Saturday, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin traveled to Georgia to campaign with Shigley in Alpharetta, a bustling suburb 26 miles (42 kilometers) north of Atlanta.

Georgia Republican political strategist Brian Robinson said Democrats generally perform well in low-turnout races like the August special election. That’s especially true when their party isn’t in the presidency.

Republican support also was divided among candidates in August. Republican Party leaders are now supporting Dickerson, an investment company president. He is self-funding his campaign, and promises to lower taxes and support stricter immigration policies.

Shigley, a lawyer and small-business owner who lives on a farm with her husband and five children, says she wants to lower the cost of living for working families. She ran in 2024 against Republican state House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones and lost by roughly 20 percentage points.

Shigley and her supporters say more voters turned out in August because they are tired of the “chaos” driven by Trump’s extreme policies, and they expect the same enthusiasm Tuesday.

Local and state Democrats say regardless of the outcome, the rush of volunteers offers hope for broader grassroots organizing ahead of races coming up in 2026 for governor, U.S. senator and other offices.

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Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.