State Rep. Matt Gurtler won the first round of the Republican primary in Georgia’s 9th congressional district on Tuesday, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Gurtler came first in the primary, receiving 21.5% of the vote. He will now face a run-off election on August 11 against second place candidate Andrew Clyde, who has not sought political office before. Former U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), another libertarian-leaning candidate, came in fourth place with 13.4%. Given the district is safe Republican, the winner of this runoff will almost certainly go on to represent the district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gurtler was previously a volunteer for former Rep. Ron Paul’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, and was endorsed in his congressional bid by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). During Gurtler’s tenure in the Georgia state House, he has become renowned for his record of “no” votes on unconstitutional and anti-liberty legislation.
“He’s an honest person who stands for the principles that Republicans say they do, but he actually follows through,” Gurtler campaign manager Banks Wise stated.
Paul also had positive words for Gurtler.
“Matt Gurtler is a proven conservative who has stood strong against out-of-control government spending and the special interests in Atlanta,” Paul wrote in his endorsement of Gurtler. “He is the exact type of conservative leader we need in Washington who will defend liberty and will serve the people of Georgia’s ninth district, not the DC insiders.”
Other liberty-minded candidates also won their races during the June 9 primaries. Nancy Mace, a long-time ally of the liberty movement, secured the Republican nomination in South Carolina’s 1st congressional district.
