Republicans challenge Clyde in Georgia’s 9th District

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Incumbent Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., is facing a primary challenger in his bid to hold on to his 9th District post.

Sam Couvillon and Joel Poole are both challenging Clyde in the May 19 primary. Early voting begins on Monday, April 27.

Clyde took over the seat in 2021. Couvillon, who previously served as Gainesville’s mayor, said local leaders have told him Clyde is not responsive to their needs.

“That is unacceptable,” Couvillon told The Center Square. “We have a congressman who is so principled he will not participate in congressionally directed spending.”

Couvillon said he would focus on bringing more federally appropriated funds to the 9th district. He said he would advocate for making healthcare more affordable for district residents and for reducing premiums.

Couvillon criticized the Affordable Care Act, saying it has been used to raise premiums. He called on insurers to get customers more involved in the subsidy process.

“By becoming more involved in the purchasing process, the economy of scale would drop the price down,” Couvillon said.

Clyde did not respond to The Center Square’s request for an interview. According to his campaign website, he has focused on eliminating federal agencies, such as the Department of Education, and on dramatically reducing taxes. He called for eliminating taxes on the production of goods and dismantling the IRS.

Poole did not respond to a request from The Center Square for an interview. He is focusing his campaign on eliminating waste and reducing tax hikes, according to his website.

Couvillon also advocated targeting federal programs that experience fraud, waste and abuse. He said issues of fraud in Minnesota and other parts of the country are a large concern for him.

“Before we start trying to raise taxes on people, let’s make some cuts,” Couvillon said. “We need to be good stewards of the people’s money.”

Two Democrats, Nick Alex and Caitlyn Gegan, are hoping to challenge the Republican candidate in November.

If elected, Alex told Ballotpedia that he would sponsor funding for the Social Security Administration, increase access to rural healthcare, and raise the minimum wage.

“We need policies that lift people up, not push them further behind,” Alex wrote. “That means protect access to affordable housing, expand job opportunities with fair wages, invest in public schools, preserve rural hospitals, and ensure seniors can retire with dignity.”

Republicans have held the seat since 2000, according to Ballotpedia.

Couvillon said Republicans have a challenge if they want to retain the seat.

“We’ve got to find those voters that feel like they are not being listened to,” he said.