A Republican candidate secured victory in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in Georgia, marking another win for conservative forces in a battleground state. Jason Dickerson, a business owner, defeated Democrat Debra Shigley in a runoff after neither candidate achieved a majority in the August primary. Dickerson garnered 9,432 votes to Shigley’s 7,009, according to reports.

Dickerson emphasized the election result as a rejection of “woke liberal ideology,” stating his commitment to advancing “America First values” in his new role. His win preserved Republican control of the state Senate, maintaining a 33-23 majority. Dickerson replaces Brandon Beach, a fellow Republican who was appointed U.S. Treasurer by President Donald Trump in March. Beach, elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2024, had held the seat for over a decade.

The August race featured seven candidates—six Republicans and one Democrat—with Shigley surprising observers by securing 39% of the vote in a traditionally Republican district. The runoff saw Dickerson prevail with 57.4% of the vote to Shigley’s 42.6%. Despite Trump’s 34-point margin in the district during the 2024 election, Shigley’s performance drew national attention from Democrats, who viewed it as a sign of growing grassroots engagement.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin traveled to Georgia to campaign with Shigley, while state Senate Democrats highlighted the race as evidence of potential momentum for future elections. Georgia Republican strategist Brian Robinson noted that Democrats often perform better in low-turnout contests like this one.