Friday, January 30, 2026–9:10 a.m.
-Staff reports-
Qualifying is underway for the District 53 seat in the Georgia State Senate.
The Special Election will be held on March 10 in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and a portion of Floyd Counties to fill a vacancy due to the qualifying of Senator Colton Moore for the Special Election to fill a vacancy in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District for the United States House of Representatives.
A Special Runoff Election, if needed, shall be held on April 7, 2026.
Qualified candidates include:
Republicans
Blake Elsberry, a regional director from Walker County
Denise Pierce Burns, a homemaker and home educator from Catoosa County
Lanny Thomas, a retired educator from Chattooga County
Democrats
John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk, a professor of communication from Walker County
Qualifying for the Georgia Senate District 53 special election will be held at the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Division, 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower, Suite 802, Atlanta, GA 30334.
It continues Friday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., and Monday, February 2, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m.
The qualifying fee is $400.00.
Monday, February 9, 2026, is the last day to register to vote for all persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to vote in the Special Election.
Advance in-person absentee voting will begin on Monday, February 16.
