'[Fuller] Sold His Soul to Donald Trump': Race to Replace Marjorie Taylor Green Gets Heated

The two candidates still vying for former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's 14th Congressional seat faced off in a debate over the weekend, answering questions about the Iran war, immigration, and the economy.

Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris were the top two candidates following the March 10 special election in which none of the 15 candidates received at least 50% of the vote. Fuller and Harris will face each other exclusively in a runoff election set for April 7.

Early voting begins on March 30.

The Debate

During the introduction portion of the debate, Harris said Fuller had "sold his soul to Donald Trump," repeating that sentiment several times throughout the debate.

"He cannot fight for you because he cannot go against the president," Harris said as the moderator cut him off for time, later asking if there were any policies Fuller would disagree with Trump on. Fuller had no answer.

Harris emphasized his ability to work across the aisle, a skill he said would make him a more effective lawmaker than Fuller.

The Issues

The first question posed to the candidates was whether they would support ground troops in Iran. Harris recieved it.

"This is not a war that we should be in," Harris said, adding the government should be focusing on the issues close to home instead, like the economy, later calling it a "forever war."

Clay Fuller, President Donald Trump's endorsed candidate, said he supported the commander-in-chief's actions against Iran, during the event hosted by The Atlanta Press Club.

"Our country is safer because of what President Trump has done regarding Iran," he said. "And, it actually puts America first by allowing the country to offload its counterterrorism problems in the Middle East to Israel, he added.

Immigration

Several times during the debate, Harris commended Trump on effectively securing the border, but he added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers should not be in Georgia. "The reality of it is, ICE needs to go back to the border," he said.

Fuller said the government shutdown caused by disagreements in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE, is an example of the Democrats harming Georgians. "This is clearly the Democrat Party, and Mr. Harris, putting illegal immigrants first, and Americans last," he accused.

The Other Issues

A number of other issues were discussed during the debate with some key positions by the two candidates clarified.

Fuller expressed opposition to federal or state regulations on artificial intelligence, while Harris said the federal government needs to get involved.

Harris said he will never try to take Georgians' rights to own guns away, as a registered gun owner himself.

Fuller emphasized that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by the U.S. Congress last year had a positive impact on Georgia's farmers by increasing exemptions for the estate tax. He said he would also like to see the capital gain tax on mainstreet investments done away with to allow farmers to better reinvest in themselves.