Three Candidates Seek to Replace Senator Colton Moore

Since late November, Northwest Georgia has been thrown into complete political chaos. The spark that ignited this powder keg was, of course, the resignation of former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. In only four days following her announcement that she would be vacating her seat on January 5th, fifteen candidates were in the race to succeed her. Today, that number now exceeds twenty. To read about MTG’s resignation and those aiming to fill the void, click here. Qualifying remains underway and is set to end Wednesday, January 14th, at 1:00 PM. Governor Kemp has set the special election for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District for March 10th, 2026. Early voting will begin on February 16th, 2026.

Voters of Georgia’s 53rd State Senate district (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and northern Floyd) are set to have a special election to fill the seat of Senator Colton Moore as he runs for former Congresswoman Greene’s seat. Since Moore’s announcement for a higher office in November, two Republicans, Blake Elsberry and Lanny Thomas, announced their respective candidacies for the Senate post. One Democrat, Jack Zibluk, was already in the race against Senator Moore. Though only three candidates are currently in the race, more will likely emerge as Governor Kemp has not yet called for a special election contingent on Moore’s resignation. With all the political noise that will inundate voters in our region, it is important to know who is already in the field running to represent you. So, the question is, who are these three candidates?

Blake Elsberry

Blake Elsberry served as the Sole Commissioner of Chattooga County from 2020 to 2024. In 2020, he ousted incumbent Commissioner Jason Winters in the August runoff election. Then in 2024, Elsberry was defeated in the May primary by current Commissioner Andy Allen. Prior to politics, he attended Chattooga High School, earned his degree from Northwest Georgia Technical College, and built a career at Floyd Hospital as an invasive cardiovascular technician. As listed on his website, Elsberry aims to expand healthcare access, end the state income tax, reform property tax, support local farmers, and ensure election integrity. To learn more about Republican Blake Elsberry, click here.

Lanny Thomas

Lanny Thomas served as Mayor of Trion for the past eight years. Growing up, Thomas attended LaFayette High School before attending the University of West Georgia. Before becoming mayor, he built a career as a public-school educator for the Trion City School System. According to his campaign website, Thomas looks to support small businesses, maintain strong law enforcement, strengthen rural infrastructure and broadband, support pro-agriculture policies, strengthen education and parental rights, improve healthcare access, and create easier access for veterans. To learn more about Republican Lanny Thomas, click here.

Jack Zibluk

Jack Zibluk is a media history teacher and communications professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Initially from Connecticut, Zibluk moved to Arkansas before settling on Lookout Mountain within the last decade. In November of 2024, he ran against Republican State Representative Mike Cameron and received 19.7% of the vote. On his website, Zibluk says he wants to prioritize regional economic development, expand mental health access, and increase road safety through allowing municipalities to have greater control. To learn more about Democrat Jack Zibluk, click here.

Like previously stated, a date for the special election remains unknown. The process for Georgia’s 53rd Senate District special election will be a jungle primary like that of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Unlike a typical primary, all candidates, regardless of political party, will be on the same ballot. Unless a single candidate can gain 50% plus one vote on the special election date, a runoff will be called for April 7th, 2026.