While support for President Donald Trump has been a key issue in many Republican primaries, that has not been the case with the GOP primary for the seat currently held by Georgia U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde.
The challengers are focusing on local issues.
Clyde has been in office since 2021 representing the 9th Congressional District, which covers all or parts of 12 counties, including Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson Counties.
It is a heavily Republican district that Clyde won re-election with 69% of the vote in 2024.
His Republican challengers are former Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon and current Hall County Commissioner Greg Poole.
Couvillon criticizes Clyde on earmarks
While campaigning at a recent Fraternal Order of Police breakfast in Gainesville, Couvillon talked about Clyde not bringing federal funding back to the district.
“I want to be an advocate for the people of the 9th District,” he said. “We have rural hospitals that are closing throughout the state — Stephens County Hospital being one of them struggling, needed a million dollars to update their operating room. Our congressman does not participate in congressional-directed spending — money that has already appropriated.”
Couvillon said other Georgia Republicans in Congress, and even the state’s two Democratic senators, have brought more federal funds to the 9th Congressional District.
“A Democrat, Raphael Warnock, delivered that money while [Clyde] sat on the sideline,” he said. “We have wastewater treatment facilities in White County [getting federal funding] that was delivered by Jon Ossoff. Our congressman sat on the sidelines. And to give you an example of how this is working, [U.S. Rep.] Rich McCormick in a neighboring district … brought home $20 million to his district. In the meantime, Andrew Clyde brought nothing to our district.”
But speaking after his appearance at the Hall County Republican Party candidate forum, Clyde pushed back on the idea that Washington is going to spend that money anyway.
“The money doesn’t have to be spent. It’s $16 billion, which is about 1% of the annual budget every year. That money doesn’t have to be spent, OK? It could go to reducing our debt and deficit. You know, at some point with the $39 trillion debt, we are going to hit a sovereign debt crisis, and I believe that’s coming very, very soon because right now we are spending 20% of all the revenue that comes into the federal government on just servicing the interest on that debt.”
Clyde added, “It’s basically buying votes when you’re dealing with the earmarks. And I’m not going to saddle our children and their children and our great-great grandchildren with increased debt.”
Poole emphasizes affordability issues
Poole is also critical of Clyde.
“I have been instrumental in bringing $15 million back to our roads and network in Hall County. He’s brought zero to us.”
Poole focused on affordability issues during the forum, which featured all three candidates.
“This is one of the most key things that I’ve seen as a county commissioner right now, as our kids can’t afford housing. It’s astronomical, the problem we got. The gap between affordability, a living wage and a house price is larger than it’s ever been. Imagine that, and nobody said nothing about it.”
Poole also had a warning to Hall County Republicans.
“I can tell you what’s gonna happen in midterms. Democrats are gonna say they’re running on affordability issues and they’re gonna wipe us out, if we’re not careful because we don’t talk about it. We talk about things that does not come across our kitchen tables. Now these are real issues that we’re all facing and we should be very keen on that.”
Clyde cites Trump endorsement, constituent services
Clyde promoted President Trump’s endorsement and the 2025 Republican-backed tax package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
But Poole says 9th District residents have not seen the benefits.
“It’s not come across the table. It’s all talking points, but with gas as high as it is, housing, electricity, everything going up.”
Clyde also talked about his office resolving 3,000 constituent cases.
But Couvillon said that Clyde has not been responsive to local elected officials, including during Couvillon’s time as mayor.
“Our congressman brings back zero because he’s principled, and I admire that, but he’s principled to a fault. These are appropriated dollars that are gonna be spent whether they’re spent in the 9th District or if they’re spent in California and New York.”
Couvillon won a non-binding straw poll held at the forum with 177 votes, or 61%. Clyde got 60 votes (21%) and Poole 51 votes (18%).
Early voting continues through May 15. Primary Election Day is May 19. If no candidates gets more than 50%of the vote, the top two will advance to a June 16 runoff.
The Democratic primary features Nick Alex and Caitlyn Gegen.
