Buddy Carter

Buddy Carter
Born	Earl LeRoy Carter 6 9, 1957
Birthplace	Port Wentworth, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Pharmacist, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Georgia's 1st congressional district
Education	Young Harris College (AA) University of Georgia (BS)
Spouse(s)	Amy Carter
Children	3
Website	[buddycarter.house.gov Official site]

Earl LeRoy "Buddy" Carter (born September 6, 1957) is an American politician and pharmacist who has served as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 1st congressional district since January 2015. The district, based in Savannah, encompasses most of the state's coastal southern region. A member of the Republican Party, Carter entered Congress after longtime incumbent Jack Kingston vacated the seat to pursue a U.S. Senate bid. Before his election to the House, Carter served in the Georgia State Senate, representing the 1st district from 2009 to 2014, and prior to that in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 159th district from 2005 to 2009. A licensed pharmacist by profession, Carter has focused much of his congressional work on healthcare policy, immigration enforcement, and economic issues affecting Georgia's coastal communities. In May 2025, Carter announced he would not seek re-election to the House in 2026, instead pursuing the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate to challenge Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.

Early Life

Earl LeRoy Carter was born on September 6, 1957, in Port Wentworth, Georgia, a small city in Chatham County located along the Savannah River near Savannah. He grew up in the coastal Georgia region, an area that would later form the core of the congressional district he represents. Carter's upbringing in southeast Georgia shaped his connection to the communities he would go on to serve in both state and federal office.

Education

Carter began his postsecondary education at Young Harris College, a private institution in the north Georgia mountains, where he earned an associate's degree. He subsequently transferred to the University of Georgia in Athens, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. His training as a pharmacist became central to both his professional career and his later focus on healthcare legislation in Congress.

Career

Pharmacy Career

Before entering politics, Carter worked as a licensed pharmacist, establishing himself in the healthcare community in the Savannah area. His professional background in pharmacy informed many of the policy positions he would later champion in the Georgia legislature and in Congress, particularly regarding prescription drug pricing, healthcare access, and pharmaceutical regulation.

Georgia House of Representatives

Carter's political career began with his election to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he represented the 159th district. He took office on January 10, 2005, and served until September 15, 2009, when he transitioned to the state senate. During his tenure in the Georgia House, Carter focused on issues relevant to the coastal Georgia region and gained experience in state-level governance. He was succeeded in the 159th district seat by Ann Purcell.

Georgia State Senate

On November 22, 2009, Carter began serving in the Georgia State Senate, representing the 1st district. He succeeded Eric Johnson in the seat. Carter served in the state senate until 2014, when he launched his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded in the state senate by Ben Watson.

U.S. House of Representatives

2014 Election

Carter ran for Congress in 2014 after Jack Kingston, who had represented Georgia's 1st congressional district since 1993, decided not to seek re-election and instead ran for the U.S. Senate. The open seat drew a competitive Republican primary field in the heavily conservative district. Carter advanced through the primary process and won the general election, taking office on January 3, 2015.

Tenure in Congress

Since entering Congress, Carter has represented Georgia's 1st congressional district, which includes the city of Savannah and much of the state's Atlantic coastline. He has been re-elected multiple times, serving continuously from January 2015.

Carter has focused on several key policy areas during his time in Congress, including healthcare, immigration, and economic policy.

Healthcare and Pharmacy Policy

Drawing on his background as a pharmacist, Carter has been involved in healthcare legislation and has positioned himself as a voice for pharmacy-related issues in Congress. His professional experience has given him a perspective distinct from many of his colleagues on matters of drug pricing and pharmaceutical regulation.

Immigration

Carter has taken a firm stance on immigration enforcement throughout his congressional tenure. He has co-sponsored legislation targeting sanctuary cities and has advocated for stricter immigration enforcement measures. He has also co-sponsored immigration-related military legislation.

In 2017, Carter expressed support for President Donald Trump's executive order restricting travel from several predominantly Muslim countries.

In February 2026, following a deadly crash in Savannah involving an individual who was reportedly fleeing federal immigration authorities, Carter called for increased ICE coordination with local authorities and additional ICE agents in Georgia. He subsequently called for an "ICE surge" in Georgia after the Department of Homeland Security reported that an undocumented immigrant with a final removal order was responsible for the death of a Savannah teacher.

Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits

In 2017, Carter introduced legislation that would require drug testing for recipients of unemployment benefits, arguing that it would help ensure that individuals receiving government assistance were prepared to re-enter the workforce.

Military and Transgender Troops

In 2017, Carter expressed support for President Trump's ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. At a town hall event, he stated his opposition to transgender troops serving in the armed forces.

Tax Policy

Carter voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the major tax overhaul legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in December 2017.

Town Hall Meetings

Carter's town hall meetings during 2017, a period of heightened political activism across the country, were marked by contentious exchanges. A town hall event at Armstrong State University drew significant attention for the heated atmosphere, including reports of shouting matches between attendees and the congressman. During this period, Carter used the Southern colloquial expression "snatch a knot in their ass" to describe what he believed voters wanted done to members of Congress, a phrase that attracted national media attention.

Trade and Tariff Policy

In February 2026, following a Supreme Court ruling that limited presidential authority on global tariffs, Carter issued a statement criticizing the decision. He expressed concern that the ruling would negatively affect American workers and undermine the executive branch's ability to implement trade policy.

Technology and Transportation

In February 2026, Carter sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requesting an investigation into Waymo's reported use of remote foreign drivers in its autonomous vehicle operations.

Legislative Resolutions

In January 2026, Carter introduced a resolution condemning individuals who stormed Cities Church in Minnesota on January 18, 2026.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

In May 2025, Carter announced that he would not seek re-election to the House of Representatives in 2026. Instead, he declared his intention to pursue the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in Georgia, with the aim of challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Carter was one of four Georgia Republican House members who announced they would leave their seats open in the 2026 cycle.

In February 2026, Carter joined the Republican Party of Richmond County for their monthly breakfast, engaging in grassroots outreach as part of his Senate campaign activities.

Personal Life

Carter is married to Amy Carter. The couple has three children. The family has resided in the coastal Georgia area, within the congressional district Carter represents. Carter's career as a pharmacist preceded his entry into politics, and his professional background has remained a defining aspect of his public identity throughout his years in office.

Electoral History

Carter has competed in multiple elections at the state and federal level. His campaigns for the Georgia House of Representatives (159th district), the Georgia State Senate (1st district), and the U.S. House of Representatives (1st congressional district) have all been run under the Republican Party banner.

Georgia's 1st congressional district has been a safe Republican seat, and Carter has won re-election to the House multiple times since his initial victory in 2014.