Debra Shigley, a Democrat, captured nearly 40% of the vote in a special election primary for a state Senate seat in a heavily Republican Atlanta suburb and will face Republican Jason Dickerson in a Sept. 23 runoff.
Shigley’s performance in the low-turnout contest has energized local Democrats and drawn attention from state and national strategists as a possible sign of discontent with President Donald Trump. Republican strategists and analysts cautioned that special elections often produce misleading results because turnout is small and voters are unrepresentative of a broader electorate.
The contest is for Georgia Senate District 21, which covers suburbs in Fulton and Cherokee counties about 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta. The seat opened after Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach was tapped by the Trump administration to serve as U.S. treasurer. Georgia’s rules for special legislative elections do not include party primaries, so Shigley — the lone Democrat on the ballot — ran against six Republicans.
Shigley, a lawyer, mother of five and entrepreneur who founded a business providing hair-care services to women of color, finished first in the field with roughly 39% of the vote. Dickerson, an investment company president who self-funded his campaign, came in second with about 17.4%.
Shigley said her campaign is focusing on economic pocketbook issues, promising to champion working families and push to lower the costs of housing, health care and groceries. At a recent event in the district, she linked voter enthusiasm to frustration with national developments, saying the moment has driven Democrats to organize and “make their voices heard.”
Local volunteers said the energy has been notable. Connor Roberts, a college freshman who knocked on hundreds of doors for the campaign, said many voters who lean liberal were voting in the special election when they normally would not. Nate Rich, chair of the Cherokee County Democratic Party, said the campaign has drawn hundreds of volunteers and generated unprecedented local engagement.
Republican campaign messaging in the race has emphasized traditional conservative themes. Dickerson touted his business experience, a record of helping local residents access housing and scholarships through his foundation, and positions favoring lower taxes, smaller government, stricter immigration enforcement and election integrity. His campaign website said he would prioritize serving the community rather than special interests.
Georgia Republican Party chairman Josh McKoon said the state remains conservative and urged Republicans to mobilize their voters. Georgia Republican strategist Brian Robinson said the Shigley result should be interpreted cautiously because of the low turnout, arguing the result primarily shows Democrats may be more motivated in the moment. “To read the tea leaves too much is a fool’s errand, because it’s such a low turnout,” Robinson said.
Data tracking special elections since Trump took office shows Democrats often do better in low-turnout contests than they do in high-profile presidential years. Research from The Downballot, which compiled 39 special elections nationwide, found that on average Democrats performed about 15.7 percentage points better than former Vice President Kamala Harris did in the 2024 presidential race in comparable contests. Republicans nonetheless largely held their seats; Democrats did flip a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in March and two Iowa state Senate seats earlier in the year.
Political scientists and local leaders said whether the Shigley result signals broader trends will depend on turnout and how voters feel about national policies a year from now. Charles Bullock III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said President Trump’s policy record — including immigration measures and tariffs that can affect prices — will shape voter attitudes heading into 2026. “What’s going to be at play in 2026 is does Trump deliver on his promises, and if he does, are they still popular?” Bullock said.
Democrats view the contest as a chance to build organizing infrastructure ahead of major statewide races in 2026, including the governor and U.S. Senate contests. Former state Sen. Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat and candidate for governor, said races like Shigley’s help train volunteers and build a broader coalition for future contests.
The Sept. 23 runoff will test whether the heightened Democratic engagement in District 21 sustains itself in a head-to-head matchup and whether Republicans can consolidate the county-level strength that has historically favored them in the district. Analysts said turnout and voter sentiment about national issues will be pivotal to the outcome and to any assessment of whether the result reflects a broader shift in Georgia politics.