ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election this year. He has been actively working to discredit the Democratic-led investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Loudermilk has served in Congress since 2015. He is among a group of sitting members who have resigned from the House of Representatives. So far, 50 people have resigned or run for other positions.
Four of Georgia’s Republican-controlled congressional seats are set to change hands this year. In addition to Loudermilk, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January, setting up a special election in March. U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins are both running for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination to replace incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Loudermilk, 62, said in a statement that he wanted to spend “more focused time” with his family.
“I first ran for Congress in 2014, and as I said then, representing people in Congress is a service, not a profession,” Loudermilk said. “While I continue to receive strong support from the people of the 11th Congressional District, I believe it is time to contribute to my community, state and country in other ways.”
The 11th Congressional District is located northwest of Atlanta and includes all of Bartow, Gordon, and Pickens counties and parts of Cherokee and Cobb counties. The Cook Political Report ranks the district as the fifth most Republican out of nine districts held by Republicans in Georgia.
Before serving in Congress, Loudermilk served in the Air Force. He served as chairman of the Bartow County Republican Party, then served six years in the Georgia House of Representatives and two years in the state Senate.
Loudermilk came under scrutiny from the House January 6 Committee for his visit to parts of the U.S. Capitol on January 5, 2021. The committee said some visitors may be checking safety measures. Loudermilk has denied wrongdoing and called it a “smear campaign.”
After Republicans secured the majority, a subcommittee led by Loudermilk released a report accusing former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of misconduct before the Democratic-led Jan. 6 committee and calling for her to be investigated for criminal witness tampering. Loudermilk currently leads another subcommittee charged with further investigating the events of January 6.
