Rep. Barry Loudermilk won’t seek reelection, opening Georgia’s 11th District

U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk announced Wednesday that he will not seek another term in Congress leaving Georgia’s 11th Congressional District open for the taking.

Loudermilk, who has served six terms, marks the fourth departure of Republican representatives from Georgia. 

“It is time to contribute to my community, state and nation in other ways,” he said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins dropped their positions to run for U.S. Senate, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned after a public dispute with President Donald Trump.

Loudermilk released a public statement Wednesday explaining his reasons for throwing in the towel.

“My wife and I have prayed diligently and discussed this extensively; and, while this is not an easy decision, we believe it is the right one,” he wrote. “While serving my constituents in Congress ranks among my greatest honors, being a husband, a father, and a grandfather holds even greater importance to me; and at this time, I wish to spend more dedicated time with my family.”

Loudermilk serves on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee and the Committee on House Administration. He is also the Chairman of the Select Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 events at the Capitol.

The 11th Congressional District covers a large swath of northwest Georgia, including parts of Cobb and Cherokee counties as well as Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties.

“Thank you to the great people of Georgia’s Eleventh Congressional District for allowing me to serve you, and to my incredible staff for your years of outstanding service to our district, state, and nation,” Loudermilk wrote.