Shelly ran for reelection in 1878. With the end of Reconstruction and the rise of Democratic intimidation and violence against African American voters, his reelection was much easier. He got 55.38% of the vote. This was 8,514 votes, fewer than the 9,655 he had gotten two years before, indicating a contraction in the size of the electorate in the interim. Haralson made another run for office this year but received only 6,545 votes, or 42.57% of the vote. Democratic intimidation of black Republicans had reduced their voting.