Georgia Republican Barry Loudermilk Won't Seek Reelection to US House

Loudermilk has served in Congress since 2015 and was active in efforts to discredit Democratic-led investigations into the January 6th Capitol riot.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Georgia Republican U.S. House member Barry Loudermilk, who has been active in efforts to discredit Democratic-led investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, announced Wednesday that he won't seek reelection this year. Loudermilk has served in Congress since 2015 and is part of a wave of incumbents exiting the House, with 50 so far stepping down or running for some other office.

Why it matters

Loudermilk's decision not to run for reelection means another Republican-held congressional seat in Georgia will change hands this year, with four such seats in the state set to see new representatives. His exit also comes as the House Jan. 6 committee has scrutinized Loudermilk for giving a tour of parts of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021, suggesting some tour participants may have been examining security measures.

The details

Loudermilk, 62, said in a statement that he wanted to spend 'more dedicated time' with his family. 'I first ran for election to Congress in 2014 and, as I stated then, representing the people in Congress is a service, not a career,' Loudermilk said. 'And although I continue to have strong support from the people of the 11th Congressional District, I believe it is time to contribute to my community, state, and nation in other ways.' The 11th Congressional District, northwest of Atlanta, includes all of Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties and parts of Cherokee and Cobb counties.

  • Loudermilk has served in Congress since 2015.
  • Loudermilk announced on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, that he won't seek reelection this year.

The players

Barry Loudermilk

A Georgia Republican U.S. House member who has been active in efforts to discredit Democratic-led investigations into the January 6th, 2021 Capitol riot.

Liz Cheney

A former U.S. Representative who served on the Democratic-led January 6th committee, and whom Loudermilk called for to be investigated for criminal witness tampering.

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What they’re saying

“I first ran for election to Congress in 2014 and, as I stated then, representing the people in Congress is a service, not a career. And although I continue to have strong support from the people of the 11th Congressional District, I believe it is time to contribute to my community, state, and nation in other ways.”

— Barry Loudermilk (ksgf.com)

What’s next

With Loudermilk's decision not to run for reelection, the 11th Congressional District of Georgia will see a new Republican representative elected in 2026.

The takeaway

Loudermilk's exit from Congress comes as he has been a vocal critic of the Democratic-led investigations into the January 6th Capitol riot, highlighting the ongoing partisan divisions over that event and its aftermath.