Andrew Clyde

Andrew Clyde
Born	Andrew Scott Clyde 11/22/1963
Birthplace	Walkerton, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician business owner
Known for	U.S. Representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district
Education	University of Notre Dame Bethel University (BBA) University of Georgia (MBA)
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Morgan
Website	clyde.house.gov

Andrew Scott Clyde (born November 22, 1963) is an American politician and businessman who's been serving as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district since January 2021. He's also a U.S. Navy Reserve veteran. A Republican, Clyde represents a sprawling swath of exurban and rural northeast Georgia, from Gainesville and Toccoa to Hartwell and Dahlonega. Before entering politics, he owned Clyde Armory, a firearms dealership in Athens, Georgia, and served as a commander in the Navy Reserve. He won his first congressional race in 2020 after a competitive Republican primary and runoff, replacing Doug Collins, who left the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Since then, Clyde has drawn national attention for opposing certification of certain states' results in the 2020 presidential election and for his remarks about the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Early Life

Andrew Scott Clyde was born on November 22, 1963, in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. Public records don't say much about his parents or early years in Canada. He later moved to the United States to study and build his career in business and military service.

Clyde served in the United States Navy Reserve, eventually reaching the rank of commander. That military background became central to how he presented himself publicly and in his campaigns for Georgia's 9th district. It shaped his political identity from the start.

After finishing his education and serving in the Navy, Clyde settled in Athens, Georgia. He founded Clyde Armory, a firearms dealership that would define much of his career. The business shaped his political views, especially on Second Amendment rights.

Education

Clyde attended the University of Notre Dame before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. He later got a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Georgia. Bethel University honored him in 2015 with a Wall of Fame award, recognizing his success in business and community involvement after graduation.

Career

Business Career

Before entering public office, Clyde was best known as the owner of Clyde Armory, a federally licensed firearms dealership in Athens, Georgia. The shop sold firearms and accessories, and he ran it for years, becoming a recognized figure in the Athens business world. His experience as a gun store owner directly shaped his political thinking, particularly on gun rights and federal firearms rules.

The Athens Banner-Herald profiled Clyde in 2015 in connection with federal legislation that bore his name, showing his work on firearms policy before he ran for office.

Business and public policy collided in 2020. Clyde sued Athens-Clarke County over its shelter-in-place ordinance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a firearms dealer, he argued the restrictions blocked him from running his business and stopped citizens from buying guns. The lawsuit got media attention early in the pandemic and came as he launched his congressional campaign.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Clyde announced his candidacy for Georgia's 9th congressional district in 2020. The seat opened up because Republican Doug Collins stepped aside to run in the special Senate election instead.

The Republican primary was really the deciding contest in this safely Republican district. Clyde faced several opponents, including state Representative Matt Gurtler, in a crowded field. When nobody got a majority in the initial primary, Clyde and Gurtler faced off in a runoff.

During the campaign, he stressed his business background, his Navy Reserve service, and his dedication to conservative principles: gun rights, fiscal responsibility, and limited government. His lawsuit against the county's COVID restrictions also featured in his campaign story, presenting him as someone defending constitutional rights and business interests through the pandemic.

Clyde won the Republican runoff and secured the nomination. The general election in November 2020 came next, and he won decisively in the heavily Republican district.

U.S. House of Representatives

On January 3, 2021, Clyde was sworn in as the representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district, succeeding Doug Collins. His district covers a large part of northeast Georgia, stretching across Gainesville, Toccoa, Hartwell, and Dahlonega, plus surrounding rural and exurban areas.

2020 Election Certification and January 6

Soon after taking office, Clyde voted against certifying electoral results from Arizona and Pennsylvania during the January 6, 2021, joint session to certify the 2020 presidential election results. He joined other Republican members who objected to certain states' electoral votes, citing election integrity concerns.

What happened on January 6, 2021, became a defining moment for Clyde. A mob of Donald Trump supporters breached the Capitol building during the certification process. Clyde acknowledged later that he'd helped barricade the House chamber doors to keep the mob out. But then he stirred up major controversy with later statements, calling it "no insurrection" and comparing the breach to a "normal tourist visit." The gap between his immediate acknowledgment of barricading against "the mob who tried to enter" and his later remarks drew huge media attention and criticism.

Legislative Priorities

In Congress, Clyde has concentrated on conservative policy goals. His record shows his work on Second Amendment issues, fiscal conservatism, and immigration enforcement, all reflecting his background as a firearms dealer.

He introduced the Commonsense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now (CLEAN) in D.C. Act alongside Senator Ted Cruz in September 2025, targeting law enforcement policy in the District of Columbia.

Immigration policy has also engaged his attention. In February 2026, his office highlighted the Oakwood ICE Facility in his district, relating to Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations following engineering assessments.

That January, Clyde wrote an op-ed in The Gainesville Times about President Trump's second term and what he called legislative and policy wins.

District and Constituent Services

Clyde stays visible in his district through constituent work and community programs. His office runs out of Gainesville, Georgia, and hosts events regularly.

In February 2026, he honored Sky Valley Police Officer Andrew Williams as a "Special Georgian of the Ninth," part of a program where the congressman recognizes people who've made real contributions to their communities in the 9th district.

Winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge visited his Gainesville District Office, where he recognized their tech and coding work. He also announced the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, asking high school students across the 9th district to enter their work.

After Winter Storm Fern hit in late January 2026, Clyde visited White, Habersham, and Rabun Counties to see the damage. He met with local leaders and residents who'd been affected.

He also weighed in on local issues within his district. In February 2026, he released a statement after the City of Mulberry got its certified census resolution, a matter tied to the community's official population count and municipal status.

Personal Life

Clyde married Jennifer Morgan. He lives in the Athens, Georgia, area, where he's been based through his years running Clyde Armory.

Born in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, Clyde is a naturalized American citizen who served in the United States Navy Reserve, reaching the rank of commander. His military service has remained a key part of his public biography and political identity.

His ownership of Clyde Armory shaped both his personal and professional life. It directly influenced his stances on gun rights and federal firearms regulation.

Recognition

Bethel University inducted Clyde into its Wall of Fame in 2015, honoring his business success and public service work.

The Athens Banner-Herald profiled him in 2019 noting that federal legislation carried his name, reflecting his advocacy on firearms policy before his election to Congress.

As a member of Congress, Clyde has gotten attention both for his legislative work and for his controversial statements about January 6, 2021. His comment comparing the Capitol breach to a "normal tourist visit" spread widely through national media and became one of the most cited remarks by any member of Congress about the attack.