Republican Representative Drew Ferguson of Georgia announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection to his seat in 2024. In a statement, Ferguson expressed his desire to spend more time with his family while continuing to work towards making Georgia the best state in America for living and doing business. He plans to serve out the remainder of his fourth term, which concludes at the end of next year.
The decision comes two months after Ferguson revealed that his family had received death threats amid the internal conflicts within the Republican party during the election of a new House speaker following the removal of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California. Ferguson, who previously served as the chief deputy whip and sits on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, publicly withdrew his support for Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a prominent figure among hard-right conservatives. He cited Jordan’s behavior as “bullying” and condemned the threats he and his family faced, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Ferguson, a former mayor of West Point, was elected to Congress in 2016, representing Georgia’s 3rd District. The district, located to the west of Atlanta along the Georgia-Alabama state line, leans heavily Republican. Despite facing a primary challenger last year, Ferguson won reelection with a comfortable 69% of the vote.
Recent weeks have seen Georgia’s state lawmakers redraw the congressional map under a federal judge’s order to incorporate a majority-Black district. However, the Republican-controlled Legislature has proposed a map that, if approved by the court, would maintain the GOP’s 9-5 hold on the state’s U.S. House delegation and protect Republican incumbents.
Ferguson’s retirement adds to the growing list of Republican lawmakers who have chosen not to run for reelection in 2024. This development has raised questions about the future of the party and its ability to maintain its control in key districts.
As the political landscape continues to shift, both Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for what is expected to be a highly contested election cycle. With the retirement of experienced politicians like Ferguson, the stage is set for new faces to enter the political arena and shape the future of Georgia’s representation in Congress.
While Ferguson’s decision to retire is driven by personal and political circumstances, it underscores the challenges and pressures faced by lawmakers in today’s divisive political climate. As the nation awaits the 2024 elections, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will shape the future of American politics.
