Andrew Clyde Bio
Andrew Scott Clyde (born November 22, 1963) is an American politician, businessman, and former United States Navy officer. He has served as the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 9th congressional district since January 3, 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Clyde is the founder and owner of Clyde Armory, Inc., a gun retail business based in Georgia. His district covers a large swath of exurban and rural territory northeast of Atlanta, including the cities of Gainesville, Toccoa, Hartwell, and Dahlonega.
Before entering Congress, Clyde built a career that combined more than two decades of military service with entrepreneurship in the firearms industry. In office, he has been a vocal advocate for gun rights and has taken conservative positions on a range of federal issues, including election certification, federal spending, and veterans’ policy.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Andrew Scott Clyde was born on November 22, 1963, in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in the United States, spending part of his childhood in Indiana and New York. As a young man, Clyde attended Bethel University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and business management.
Through the University of Notre Dame’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program, Clyde was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in 1985. He later earned a Master of Business Administration in corporate finance and entrepreneurship from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business in 1999, strengthening the financial background that would later support his business ventures.
Path to US Politics
Clyde’s path to politics ran through both military service and small business. He served 28 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, including assignments in naval aviation units and the Seabees, with three combat deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. He retired in 2013 at the rank of commander, having received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal, and four Navy Commendation Medals.
After his naval career, Clyde built a firearms business in Georgia and became an active figure in his community. He served on the board of directors of Clarke Community Federal Credit Union and donated a 5,000-square-foot facility to Mercy Health Center and the Athens Crisis Pregnancy Center. In 2020, he announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives after five-term incumbent Doug Collins of Georgia’s 9th congressional district decided to run for the U.S. Senate, opening the seat.
Andrew Clyde Career
Early Career (1991–2019)
Andrew Clyde opened Clyde Armory, Inc. in 1991 as a hobby business operated out of his garage. The business grew steadily, and in 1999 he obtained commercial real estate. In 2010, Clyde moved the store into a custom-built, 12,400-square-foot facility modeled after a historic armory, and in 2014 he opened a second location in Warner Robins, Georgia. By the time he entered politics, the company had grown to roughly $12 million in annual sales and 25 employees.
His business background shaped his early political outlook. In 2013, the Internal Revenue Service carried out a civil asset forfeiture of $940,000 against Clyde, an action that was later reversed and resulted in a $900,000 refund. Clyde testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight about the experience, and his advocacy contributed to provisions in the Taxpayer First Act of 2019, which included the Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act that limits the funds the government can seize.
Elections Breakthrough (2020)
Clyde entered the 2020 Republican primary for Georgia’s 9th congressional district, a race that drew nine candidates. He finished second behind State Representative Matt Gurtler, forcing a runoff election in one of the most Republican-leaning districts in the country. Clyde won the August 11, 2020, runoff and went on to defeat Democratic nominee and former U.S. Army warrant officer Devin Pandy in the November general election, assuming office on January 3, 2021.
During the campaign, Clyde drew attention for suing the city of Athens, Georgia, over a shelter-in-place order issued during the COVID-19 pandemic that he said forced his business to close. The lawsuit became a focal point of his platform, highlighting his opposition to pandemic-related restrictions and his support for gun-related businesses.
Tenure Era (2021–Present)
Since taking office, Clyde has been a leading conservative voice in the House of Representatives. On January 6, 2021, he was one of 120 Republican representatives who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results in both Arizona and Pennsylvania. In May 2021, during a House Oversight Committee hearing, Clyde described the January 6 United States Capitol attack as “no insurrection” and said video of the event resembled “a normal tourist visit,” even though he acknowledged that he had helped barricade the House chamber door “from the mob who tried to enter.”
Clyde has taken notable positions on several high-profile bills. He was one of 12 House Republicans to vote against awarding Congressional Gold Medals to U.S. Capitol Police in March 2021, and one of 14 Republicans to vote against legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021. In February 2022, he was one of three representatives to vote against the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, and in 2023 he co-sponsored a bill to designate the AR-15-style rifle as the National Gun of the United States. He also introduced the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, which was favorably reported by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 5, 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Clyde’s most significant congressional moments was his advocacy for the RESPECT Act provisions in the 2019 Taxpayer First Act, his leadership of the BIDEN Act in 2022, and his sponsorship of the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act in 2024. His January 6, 2021, vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election results and his subsequent comments about the Capitol attack drew national attention and criticism from fellow lawmakers.
Andrew Clyde Career Wins
Andrew Clyde’s political career is anchored by his 2020 election to the U.S. House of Representatives and his continued representation of Georgia’s 9th congressional district.
Elections Highlights
Clyde first won his seat by capturing the August 11, 2020, Republican runoff for Georgia’s 9th congressional district and then defeating Democratic nominee Devin Pandy in the November 2020 general election. His victory in the Republican primary runoff was the decisive step toward winning one of the most reliably Republican seats in the nation.
Other Wins and Achievements
Outside of electoral politics, Clyde’s achievements include the successful growth of Clyde Armory, Inc., from a garage hobby business in 1991 to a multimillion-dollar enterprise with multiple locations. His military record is marked by 28 years of service, three combat deployments, and four major service awards, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and four Navy Commendation Medals.
Andrew Clyde Family
Family Background and Personal Lineage
Andrew Clyde was born in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, and raised in Indiana and New York before settling in Georgia. He is a Baptist, and his faith has remained a consistent part of his public identity.
Personal Life
Clyde is married to Jennifer Morgan Clyde. The couple lives in unincorporated Jackson County, Georgia, with an Athens address. He has been a longtime resident of the Athens area since moving there in 1994, when he had previously taught at the Navy Supply Corps School.