Voters across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia will have four names to choose from in the Georgia State Senate District 53 special election on March 10 , after qualifying ended Monday, February 2, at 1 p.m. Candidates who qualified include three Republicans — Blake Elsberry of Walker County , Denise Pierce Burns of Catoosa County , and Lanny Thomas of Chattooga County — along with one Democrat, John Bentley Zibluk of Walker County . Because this is a special election, all candidates will appear on the same ballot with no party primary . To win outright, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. If no one reaches that threshold, a runoff will be held April 7 . Senate District 53 covers all of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker counties , along with a small portion of northwest Floyd County . The special election follows the resignation of State Senator Colton Moore , a Republican from Dade County, who stepped down from the seat in January to run in the U.S. House District 14 special election . That federal special election is scheduled for the same day, March 10 , meaning many Northwest Georgia voters will see both races on the ballot . Both special elections will
