ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sent political shockwaves across the Georgia and the country when she announced her resignation from congress after weeks of pushing back against her own party and President Donald Trump.

“No matter which way the political pendulum swings, Republican or Democrat, nothing ever gets better for the common American man or woman,” Greene said in a video posted to her X account.

Greene said the political system is not working for North Georgians. Her resignation leaves one question hanging in the balance: who will take her place?

“She is exceptionally popular which is why it’s interesting she wanted to avoid a contested primary,” political science professor and Atlanta News First political analyst Dr. Ben Taylor said. “I think she was probably very well situated to make it through that but we’ll take her at her word for her reasons.”

A new Republican candidate will likely be endorsed by Trump.

“Once I left her, she resigned because she would never have survived a primary, but I think she’s a nice person,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.

State Senator Colton Moore, the man arrested earlier this year at the State of the State address, said he is exploring a run.

However, Democrats are also eyeing the district.

“I’m laser-focused on kitchen table issues,” Shawn Harris said.

Harris, a cattle-raising Democrat, ran against Greene in 2024 and is running for the now-open seat again in 2026.

He lost by more than 100,000 votes but is confident he can raise a coalition of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, to turn this reliably red district blue.

“We were prepared to beat Marjorie Taylor Greene and now we are prepared to beat anybody else who want to step into it,” Harris said.

Johnny Ly, who lives in Rome, voted for both Trump and Greene last year.

“For her to resign, just be quiet about it,” Ly told Atlanta News First. “She’s for (Trump) all of this time, but now she’s just going to walk off.”

Sunday morning at 11 a.m., tune into an all-new episode of On the Record where our team is digging deeper into what this means for the MAGA movement and what the future could hold for Marjorie Taylor Greene.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces resignation from Congress

President Donald Trump: ‘I’d love to see’ Marjorie Taylor Greene back in politics

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s political career has been filled with controversy

Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns. Now what?

Marjorie Taylor Greene has faced numerous GOP challengers in 14th district

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.