In a significant political upset, Democrat Eric Gisler emerged victorious in a special election held on Tuesday in a historically Republican Georgia state House district. Gisler claimed victory in the contest against Republican Mack "Dutch" Guest, leading by approximately 200 votes from over 11,000 votes cast in the final unofficial results.
According to Robert Sinners, a spokesperson from the secretary of state’s office, there were still a few provisional ballots remaining before the election tally could be officially finalized. Gisler expressed confidence in his win during a phone interview with The Associated Press, attributing his success to Democratic enthusiasm and a growing discontent among some Republicans seeking a change.
“A lot of what I would call traditional conservatives held their nose and voted Republican last year on the promise of low prices and whatever else they were selling," Gisler stated, reflecting on the voting dynamics. “But they hadn’t received that.” His remarks highlight a potential shift in voter sentiments in the wake of changing economic conditions.
Mack "Dutch" Guest did not respond immediately to requests for comments regarding the election outcome. The victory for Gisler is part of a larger trend observed in 2025, where Democrats have been experiencing electoral successes fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with Republican President Donald Trump. In November, Democratic candidates in Georgia achieved notable results in statewide special elections, unseating two incumbent Republicans in the Public Service Commission amid dissatisfaction over rising electricity costs.
Moreover, Democrats have secured significant victories in gubernatorial races across the nation, including decisive wins in Virginia and New Jersey. On the same day as Gisler's victory, a Democrat triumphed over a Trump-endorsed Republican in the nonpartisan race for mayor of Miami, marking the first Democratic win in that position in nearly three decades. Even in races they did not win, such as the recent Tennessee U.S. House contest and a Georgia state Senate race, Democrats have demonstrated strong performance.
Despite Gisler's win, Republicans continue to hold a firm majority in the Georgia House. However, their majority is projected to decrease to 99-81 when lawmakers reconvene in January. Additionally, in another heavily Republican district in Atlanta's northwest suburbs, a runoff election has been scheduled between Republican Bill Fincher and Democrat Scott Sanders to fill a vacancy left by the late Rep. Mandi Ballinger.
The reduction in the Republican majority is significant, as it marks a decline from 119 Republican seats in 2015 and represents the first instance since 2005 that the GOP will hold fewer than 100 seats in the lower chamber following their control during Reconstruction.
The special election in House District 121, located in the Athens area northeast of Atlanta, was held to fill the seat left vacant by Republican Marcus Wiedower, who resigned mid-term to pursue business interests. The majority of the district is in Oconee County, a GOP stronghold, while it also encompasses the heavily Democratic Athens-Clarke County. This district has historically been gerrymandered, creating one strong Democratic district while the rest of the county was sectioned into three seats designed to favor Republicans.
In the 2024 elections, Gisler had previously contested against Wiedower and lost with 39% of the vote to Wiedower's 61%. This year marked Guest’s first foray into public office. In previous years, the district had briefly been held by a Democrat in a special election in 2017, only to be reclaimed by Wiedower in 2018.
At 49 years old, Gisler, a Watkinsville resident, works in the insurance technology sector and owns a gourmet olive oil store. His campaign focused on key issues such as healthcare improvement, affordability, and effectively reinvesting Georgia's surplus funds. Meanwhile, Guest, a trucking company president, emphasized his community ties, pledging to enhance public safety and reduce taxes, with endorsements from prominent figures including Republican Governor Brian Kemp, a native of Athens. Guest notably raised more campaign funds than Gisler during their electoral battle.
