DALTON, Ga. — A veteran state legislator, a physician and a businesswoman.

Members of the Dalton Tea Party heard from three people who say they want to represent Georgia’s 14th Congressional District Tuesday night at Dalton’s historic Huff House. The 14th District includes Whitfield and Murray counties. It has been represented for the past 10 years by Tom Graves, R-Ranger, who said he will not seek reelection.

State Rep. Kevin Cooke, R-Carrollton, who is the associate athletic director at Shorter University and who has been a member of the legislature since 2011; John Cowan, a neurosurgeon at Rome’s Harbin Clinic; and Marjorie Greene, who co-owns a construction company that was founded by her father, spoke to about 30 people.

All three are Republicans. All three said they are pro-life, supporters of the Second Amendment and backers of President Donald Trump.

But Greene noted that even when the GOP controlled both chambers of Congress, it failed to control spending or to provide funding for President Trump’s wall along the Mexican border.

“If we don’t put strong leaders in Congress, we’ll never get anything done,” said Greene.

Cowan, whose wife is also a physician, touted his expertise in health care. He said he would support Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

“Until we secure the border, we cannot fix illegal immigration,” he said.

Cooke invited voters to examine his record in the state legislature. He said he has demonstrated he will fight for pro-life measures and against tax increases and gun control. 

Cooke said it will be easy for whoever is elected to stand up to Democrats.

“The question that faces us now is who do you trust to stand up to our own party leaders behind closed doors when they do not stick to our principles,” he said.

Greene was asked about the fact that she originally began campaigning for Congress in the 6th Congressional District, which includes many of the northern suburbs of Atlanta and is represented by Democrat Lucy McBath. Greene said she had many supporters in the 14th District ask her to run here and she became convinced that a Republican probably could not win in the 6th District, so she and her family moved to the 14th District.

All told, about a dozen people, including Gary Smith of Dawnville, have said they will run for the 14th District seat. Qualifying for that race, and all other races on the May 19 general primary ballot, will take place March 2-6.