Eric Gisler, Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House of Representatives, won the Republican seat in the Clarke and Oconee counties special election to fill a vacancy in District 121, following the resignation of former Rep. Marcus Wiedower.
Gisler defeated Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest IV by just 200 votesobtaining 50.85% compared to 49.15%. House District 121 spans Clarke and Oconee counties, with the majority of its voters in Oconee, a heavily Republican-leaning county.
Gisler benefited from strong Democratic turnout on both sides of the county line. He won 82% of the vote in Clarke County and 36% in Oconeefigures about 10 percentage points higher than those usually obtained by Democrats.
“This was a team effort. We did it. We had the local presence, the volunteers. We had the right message,” Gisler told supporters at an Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee meeting at the Trappeze Pub in downtown Athens.
The Democratic victory, against the Republican candidate in a district that voted for President Donald Trump by about 12 percentage points in 2024, comes a year before the critical 2026 midterm elections, when Georgians will vote in closely-closed Senate and gubernatorial races.
The Georgia Democratic Party congratulated Eric Gisler, owner of a local olive oil store: “This is not just a victory for Georgia Democrats, it is a victory for every family in Oconee and Clarke counties that has been struggling to get by under 22 years of failed Republican leadership.”
“Across the state, Georgians are realizing that there is only one party working to reduce costs, keep health care affordable, and prioritize people over big corporations: the Democratic Party,” Charlie Bailey, state Democratic Party chair, said in a statement.
“Our momentum is only growing, and we will continue to work, organize, and out-strategize Republicans so that this translates into more victories for Georgians in 2026.”
Democrats Hoped to Surprise After Outperforming in Recent Tennessee Special Election. They also flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission in November, sending shockwaves through the state’s political circles.
This Tuesday was the party’s second major victory; previously, Democrats flipped Miami’s mayoralty, breaking Republican Party control for the first time in almost three decades, so they also hope that an energized voter base and a message that emphasizes affordability will help them win the House of Representatives and potentially the Senate.
Special elections are inherently unpredictable, and leaders of both parties hoped or feared that President Donald Trump’s unpopularity will propel Gisler to victory, even though the district was gerrymandered to favor a Republican.
Gisler will be sworn in when the state legislature convenes for its 2026 session on Jan. 12, serving the final year of Wiedower’s two-year term.. Next fall, the challenge for Gisler will be to retain the seat. Wiedower lost to Democrat Jonathan Wallace under similar circumstances in 2017, but won a year later when voting patterns normalized.
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