Drew Ferguson

Drew Ferguson
Birthplace	West Point, Georgia, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	Head of Hyundai Motor Group Washington, D.C. Office
Employer	Hyundai Motor Group
Known for	U.S. Representative for Georgia's 3rd congressional district (2017–2025)

Andrew Scott "Drew" Ferguson IV is an American government affairs executive, former politician, and dentist who served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 3rd congressional district from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Ferguson represented a sprawling district in western Georgia that included portions of the Atlanta suburbs and extended to the Alabama border. Before entering Congress, he practiced dentistry and served as mayor of West Point, Georgia, his hometown. After departing Congress, Ferguson transitioned to the private sector, accepting a role as head of Hyundai Motor Group's Washington, D.C. office in April 2025. His career has spanned local government, federal legislative service, and corporate government relations, making him a notable figure in Georgia Republican politics over the past two decades.

Early Life

Drew Ferguson was born and raised in West Point, Georgia, a small city located along the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia-Alabama border. West Point is a community with deep roots in the textile industry and Southern small-town culture, and Ferguson has frequently cited his upbringing there as formative to his political identity and values. Details regarding his parents and siblings remain limited in available sourced material, though his connection to West Point has been a consistent element of his public biography throughout his political and post-political career.

Ferguson pursued a career in dentistry, earning a degree in dental medicine. He practiced as a dentist in West Point for a number of years before entering public service. His background in healthcare and small business ownership — operating a dental practice — informed much of his legislative focus during his time in Congress, particularly regarding healthcare policy and issues affecting small business owners and rural communities in Georgia.

Before running for Congress, Ferguson served as mayor of West Point, Georgia. His tenure as mayor coincided with a period of economic development in the region, including the arrival of major manufacturing investment in the Kia Motors manufacturing plant in the nearby area, which brought significant employment and economic activity to the west Georgia region. Ferguson's experience in local government, managing municipal affairs and working to attract investment to a small Southern city, provided him with a foundation in governance and economic development that he later carried into his congressional career.

Career

Local Government

Ferguson's entry into elected office came through local politics, serving as mayor of West Point, Georgia. In this role, he was involved in the governance of a small city that was undergoing economic transformation. West Point and the surrounding Troup County area benefited from substantial investment in automotive manufacturing, and Ferguson, as mayor, was positioned at the intersection of local government and economic development efforts. His mayoral service gave him visibility in the west Georgia political landscape and helped establish the relationships and reputation that would later support his congressional campaign.

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–2025)

Ferguson was elected to represent Georgia's 3rd congressional district in 2016 and took office in January 2017. The 3rd district encompassed a large swath of western and central Georgia, including parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area's southern suburbs and extending westward to the Alabama state line. It was considered a safely Republican district, and Ferguson won re-election multiple times during his tenure.

During his time in Congress, Ferguson served as a member of the Republican leadership. He was appointed Chief Deputy Whip of the House Republican Conference, a significant leadership position responsible for assisting in the coordination of party votes and legislative strategy. In this role, Ferguson worked closely with senior Republican leaders to build coalitions and advance the party's legislative agenda. His position in leadership gave him influence beyond what might typically be expected of a representative from a relatively rural district.

Ferguson's legislative interests reflected his background in dentistry and small-town governance. He was involved in healthcare policy discussions, tax policy, and issues related to economic development in rural and semi-rural areas. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful committees in the House, Ferguson was positioned to influence tax legislation, trade policy, and healthcare funding decisions. The Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction over tax code, tariffs, and entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security placed Ferguson at the center of some of the most consequential policy debates during his tenure.

Ferguson chose not to seek re-election in 2024, departing Congress at the end of his term in January 2025. His decision to leave Congress came amid a broader wave of Republican retirements during that period. After more than eight years of service in the House, Ferguson transitioned out of elected office and into the private sector.

Post-Congressional Career: Hyundai Motor Group

On April 15, 2025, Hyundai Motor Group announced that Ferguson had been appointed as the head of its Washington, D.C. office. The appointment was described as a strategic move by the South Korean automotive conglomerate to strengthen its government relations capabilities in the United States at a time of significant policy activity affecting the automotive industry, including trade policy, tariffs, electric vehicle incentives, and manufacturing regulations.

The role positioned Ferguson as Hyundai Motor Group's principal representative in dealings with the U.S. federal government, including Congress, the executive branch, and regulatory agencies. Given Hyundai's substantial manufacturing presence in the southeastern United States — including major facilities in Georgia and Alabama — Ferguson's deep ties to the region and his experience in Congress made him a logical choice for the position. His appointment was covered by both American and South Korean media outlets, reflecting the significance of the hire for Hyundai's U.S. government affairs strategy.

The hiring of a former congressman with leadership experience and a seat on the Ways and Means Committee was viewed as particularly significant given the policy environment surrounding international automotive manufacturing in the United States. Trade policy, including tariffs on imported vehicles and parts, electric vehicle tax credits, and the regulatory framework for advanced automotive technologies, were all active areas of legislative and executive action during this period. Ferguson's familiarity with the legislative process, his relationships with current members of Congress, and his understanding of tax and trade policy from his Ways and Means Committee service were assets that Hyundai sought to leverage through the appointment.

WRBL, a television station serving the Columbus, Georgia area near Ferguson's hometown of West Point, reported on the appointment, noting Ferguson's roots in the region and the connection between his background and Hyundai's significant manufacturing investments in the area.

Personal Life

Ferguson has maintained his connection to West Point, Georgia, throughout his career. He and his family have been rooted in the west Georgia community, and his identification with the region has been a consistent theme in his public life.

In December 2025, the Georgia State Election Board resolved a case involving Ferguson related to an illegal voting allegation. According to reporting by 11Alive, the Atlanta NBC affiliate, the case involved a change-of-address issue. The State Election Board resolved the matter by issuing a letter of instruction to Ferguson, which is a lesser administrative action rather than a formal penalty or prosecution. The case highlighted the complexities of change-of-address rules as they apply to voter registration and election law in Georgia. The resolution of the case with a letter of instruction, rather than more severe action, indicated that the board treated the matter as a procedural issue rather than an intentional violation of election law.

Recognition

Ferguson's appointment to lead Hyundai Motor Group's Washington office was recognized in both domestic and international media as a significant post-congressional career move. KED Global, a South Korean business news outlet, described the appointment as a "strategic move" by Hyundai, underscoring the importance the automaker placed on having experienced political leadership in its U.S. government relations operation.

During his time in Congress, Ferguson's role as Chief Deputy Whip placed him among the senior leadership of the House Republican Conference, a position that carried institutional recognition within the party and the chamber. His service on the Ways and Means Committee, one of the oldest and most prestigious committees in the U.S. House of Representatives, further marked his standing among his congressional peers.

Ferguson's career trajectory — from small-town dentist and mayor to congressman and corporate government affairs leader — has been noted as reflective of a path that connects local community service with national-level policy influence. His continued association with west Georgia and the broader southeastern United States has remained a defining characteristic of his public identity.

Legacy

Drew Ferguson's legacy is most directly tied to his service representing Georgia's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives over four terms. His tenure coincided with a period of significant political activity, including major tax reform legislation, debates over healthcare policy, and shifting dynamics within the Republican Party. As Chief Deputy Whip, he played a behind-the-scenes role in the legislative process, working to build consensus and manage the complexities of party discipline in the House.

His transition from Congress to the private sector, specifically to a role heading government affairs for one of the world's largest automotive manufacturers, illustrates the revolving door between legislative service and corporate government relations that is a well-documented feature of American political life. Ferguson's appointment by Hyundai Motor Group was particularly notable given the significant policy stakes facing the automotive industry in the mid-2020s, including trade tensions, electric vehicle policy, and manufacturing incentives.

In Georgia politics, Ferguson's representation of the 3rd district during a period of growth and change in the state's political landscape — including Georgia's emergence as a more competitive state in national elections — places him within a broader narrative of the state's political evolution. While the 3rd district itself remained solidly Republican throughout his tenure, the broader shifts in Georgia's electorate during the same period represent a significant chapter in Southern and American political history.

Ferguson's roots in West Point, Georgia, and his career path from local mayor to congressman to corporate executive, reflect a pattern of upward mobility through public service and political engagement that has been characteristic of many figures in American political history.