Barry Loudermilk

Barry Loudermilk
Born	Barry Dean Loudermilk 22 12, 1963
Birthplace	Riverdale, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative from Georgia's 11th congressional district
Education	Air University (AS) Wayland Baptist University (BS)
Spouse(s)	Desiree Loudermilk
Children	3
Website	[[loudermilk.house.gov loudermilk.house.gov] Official site]

Barry Dean Loudermilk (born December 22, 1963) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative from Georgia's 11th congressional district since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Loudermilk built his political career through service in the Georgia General Assembly, first in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010 and then in the Georgia State Senate from 2011 to 2013. He resigned from the state senate to pursue the congressional seat being vacated by Phil Gingrey, who left to run for the U.S. Senate. Loudermilk won the Republican nomination in a 2014 runoff election against former congressman Bob Barr, a contest that The Almanac of American Politics characterized as taking a "sharp anti-establishment turn." Before entering politics, Loudermilk served in the United States Air Force from 1984 to 1992. On February 4, 2026, Loudermilk announced that he would not seek reelection, ending a congressional tenure of more than a decade.

Early Life

Barry Dean Loudermilk was born on December 22, 1963, in Riverdale, Georgia, a city in Clayton County south of Atlanta. He grew up in the state of Georgia and enlisted in the United States Air Force after completing his secondary education. Loudermilk served in the Air Force from 1984 to 1992 as a communications operations specialist. His military service spanned a period that included the final years of the Cold War and the early post–Cold War era. Following his honorable discharge, Loudermilk transitioned to civilian life in Georgia, where he would later pursue both business interests and a career in public service.

Loudermilk's background in the military and his upbringing in suburban Georgia informed much of his later political identity, particularly his emphasis on national defense, limited government, and conservative social values. He settled in the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta, an area that would become the geographic heart of his political constituency.

Education

Loudermilk earned an associate degree from Air University, the educational institution of the United States Air Force located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University, a private Christian university headquartered in Plainview, Texas, which also maintains satellite campuses accessible to military personnel and veterans.

Career

Georgia House of Representatives (2005–2010)

Loudermilk began his career in elected office in 2005 when he took his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 14th district. He succeeded Tom Knox in the position and served three terms in the state house. During his tenure in the Georgia House, Loudermilk established himself as a conservative Republican, focusing on issues such as fiscal restraint, gun rights, and opposition to abortion. He left the Georgia House in January 2011 and was succeeded by Christian A. Coomer.

Georgia State Senate (2011–2013)

In January 2011, Loudermilk moved to the upper chamber of the Georgia General Assembly, taking a seat in the Georgia State Senate. He initially represented the 52nd district, succeeding Preston Smith, and later represented the 14th district following redistricting. Loudermilk served in the state senate until August 27, 2013, when he resigned to devote his full attention to a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded in the state senate by Bruce Thompson. His decision to resign rather than serve out his term while campaigning was noted as a signal of his commitment to the congressional race.

2014 Congressional Campaign

Loudermilk entered the race for Georgia's 11th congressional district after incumbent Phil Gingrey announced that he would not seek reelection to his House seat and would instead run for the U.S. Senate. The 11th district, located northwest of Atlanta, had long been a Republican-leaning constituency, and the open-seat race attracted a competitive Republican primary field.

The most prominent candidate in the race was Bob Barr, a former U.S. Representative who had previously held the seat and was also known as the Libertarian Party's 2008 presidential nominee. Despite Barr's name recognition, Loudermilk won the Republican runoff election on July 22, 2014. The Almanac of American Politics noted that Loudermilk's campaign took a "sharp anti-establishment turn," positioning him as the insurgent candidate against the more established Barr. In the heavily Republican district, winning the primary was tantamount to winning the general election, and Loudermilk went on to win comfortably in November 2014.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–present)

Initial Term and the Freedom Caucus

Loudermilk was sworn in as the representative from Georgia's 11th congressional district on January 3, 2015, succeeding Phil Gingrey. Upon entering Congress, Loudermilk joined the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican members known for their willingness to challenge the party's leadership on issues of fiscal policy and government spending. His membership in the caucus was consistent with the anti-establishment posture of his 2014 campaign.

However, after approximately two years in Congress, Loudermilk quietly departed the Freedom Caucus. His exit was reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in March 2017. Rather than continuing with the "anti-leadership" bloc, Loudermilk became increasingly involved in the Republican Study Committee (RSC), which is generally described as a more leadership-oriented conservative caucus within the House Republican conference. This transition reflected a broader evolution in Loudermilk's approach to legislating, as he moved from a posture of confrontation with Republican leadership to one of greater collaboration within the party's institutional structures.

Tax Reform

Loudermilk was an active supporter of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the major tax reform legislation championed by the Republican majority and President Donald Trump. He voted in favor of the bill when it passed the House in December 2017. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Loudermilk publicly defended the Republican tax reform proposals to constituents in his district, pitching the plan as beneficial for economic growth and middle-class families.

Consumer Data and the Equifax Breach

Loudermilk drew public attention for his positions regarding the regulation of consumer credit reporting agencies. In September 2017, Equifax, the major credit bureau headquartered in Atlanta, disclosed a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 143 million Americans, an event described by technology journalists as one of the worst leaks of personal information in history.

Prior to the breach, Loudermilk was among Republican members of Congress who had supported efforts to roll back certain regulations on credit bureaus. Reporting by Vanity Fair noted that Equifax had lobbied to reduce regulatory requirements in the period immediately preceding the hack. Records from the Federal Election Commission and the Center for Responsive Politics showed that Loudermilk had received campaign contributions from Equifax's political action committee. The convergence of these facts generated scrutiny of Loudermilk's stance on consumer data protection in the aftermath of the breach.

Environmental Policy

Loudermilk has expressed skepticism toward certain federal environmental regulations. He was part of a broader Republican effort that included proposals to significantly reduce the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A legislative proposal to abolish the EPA, introduced by a fellow Republican lawmaker, drew attention to the wider caucus of members who favored drastically curtailing the agency's regulatory power.

Conservative Voting Record

Throughout his time in Congress, Loudermilk has maintained a conservative voting record. Heritage Action for America, the political advocacy arm of the Heritage Foundation, has tracked Loudermilk's votes on its legislative scorecard, where he has consistently received high ratings for his adherence to conservative policy positions. His positions on civil rights and social policy have also been documented by issue-tracking organizations.

Reelection History

Georgia's 11th congressional district is located northwest of Atlanta and has a strong Republican lean. The 2025 Cook Partisan Voting Index rates the district as R+12, meaning it favors Republicans by approximately 12 percentage points over the national average. Loudermilk was reelected to successive biennial terms from 2014 onward without facing a serious general election challenge, reflecting the district's partisan composition. The Almanac of American Politics has noted that a Democratic candidate with a strong base in populous Cobb County could potentially create a more competitive race, though this scenario has not materialized during Loudermilk's tenure.

Announcement of Retirement

On February 4, 2026, Loudermilk announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress in the 2026 elections. The announcement made him one of a growing number of House Republicans choosing to retire ahead of the 2026 cycle. The Hill reported that Loudermilk was the 29th House Republican to announce he would not seek reelection, describing his departure as part of a broader wave of retirements from the chamber. Ballotpedia noted that Loudermilk was the 50th overall U.S. House member—across both parties—who would not be seeking reelection in 2026.

Politico characterized the retirement announcement as part of a broader pattern of Republican departures from the House. Following Loudermilk's announcement, multiple candidates began positioning themselves to run for the open seat. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a former Loudermilk aide launched a bid for the seat, underscoring the immediate political activity generated by the retirement. Local television station 11Alive also reported on the emerging field of candidates seeking to replace him.

Personal Life

Loudermilk is married to Desiree Loudermilk. The couple has three children. The family resides in the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta, within the boundaries of Georgia's 11th congressional district. Before entering politics, Loudermilk served in the United States Air Force from 1984 to 1992 as a communications operations specialist. His military service preceded both his educational and political careers.

Recognition

Throughout his congressional career, Loudermilk has received high ratings from conservative organizations for his voting record. Heritage Action for America has consistently given him elevated scores on its legislative scorecard, reflecting his alignment with conservative policy priorities on fiscal, social, and regulatory issues. His service in the Air Force and his subsequent career in elected office have been noted in his official congressional biography maintained by the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.