Matt Gurtler

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In February 2020, Gurtler announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Congress in Georgia's 9th congressional district, for the seat vacated by Republican U.S. Representative Doug Collins, who ran in the 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia. [3] The congressional district is a Republican safe seat. [21] [22]

During his 2020 campaign, Gurtler said he supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and a rollback of U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. [23] He opposed federal efforts to address climate change. [23] He called for "states with sanctuary cities and loose voting laws" to be "completely defunded." [23] He expressed support for the First Step Act. [23] He accused "elites like Hillary Clinton" of "violating the Constitution." [23]

In the Republican primary, Gurtler ran against former representative Paul Broun, State Senator John Wilkinson, State Representative Kevin Tanner, [21] and Athens gun shop owner Andrew Clyde. [22] All the candidates emphasized their right-wing credentials. [21] During his campaign, Gurtler posed with a photo at an event with a longtime Georgia white supremacist and far-right activist associated with the National Alliance and Hammerskins; Gurtler was criticized by his primary opponents and others across the political spectrum. [24] In the primary, Gurtler and Clyde gained the most votes, advancing to a Republican primary runoff election. [22] Clyde defeated Gurtler in the runoff election on August 11 to win the Republican nomination. [25]

Electoral history

Matt Gurtler
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives Matthew Levi Gurtler.jpg
Member of the GeorgiaHouseofRepresentatives
from the 8th district
In office
January 9, 2017 January 11, 2021
Georgia House District 8 Republican primary, 2016 [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Gurtler 4,016 34.64
Republican Kent Woerner 2,621 22.61
Republican Joshua Littrell2,60222.45
Republican David Barton2,35420.31
Total votes11,593 100.00
Georgia House District 8 Republican primary runoff, 2016 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Gurtler 3,476 60.84
Republican Kent Woerner2,23739.16
Total votes5,713 100.00
Georgia House District 8 election, 2016 [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Gurtler 24,824 100.00
Total votes24,824 100.00
Georgia House District 8 Republican primary, 2018 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Gurtler 5,971 60.19
Republican Mickey Cummings3,95039.82
Total votes9,921 100.00
Georgia's 9th Congressional district primary (2020) [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Gurtler 29,426 21.0
Republican Andrew Clyde 25,914 18.5
Republican Kevin Tanner 22,18715.8
Republican Paul Broun 18,62713.3
Republican John Wilkinson 16,31411.6
Republican Ethan Underwood12,1178.6
Republican Kellie Weeks6,4224.6
Republican Maria Strickland4,8713.5
Republican Michael Boggus4,4973.2
Total votes140,375 100.0

Post Georgia House of Representatives

Since January 2021, Gurtler has worked as the Chief of Staff to US Congressman Thomas Massie. [31] [32]

Personal life

Gurtler's wife is Marissa Solis. They have a daughter. [33]

References

  1. "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov.
  2. "Bridal registry". nebula.wsimg.com. 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Megan Reed, Matt Gurtler announces run for 9th District seat in U.S. House, The Times (Gainesville, Ga.) (February 12, 2020).
  4. 1 2 3 Belcher, Richard (February 15, 2017). "New Ga. lawmaker settles 2013 arrest". WSB-TV Atlanta. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mark Niesse (May 22, 2018). "Ga. representative known for 'no' votes survives Republican opposition". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  6. "Matt Gurtler's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. "Rabun County Republican, Matt Gurtler Announces His Run for State Representative for House District 8" (Press release). February 22, 2016.
  8. "Rabun County's Matthew Gurtler running for state house". The Clayton Tribune. February 13, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Aaron Holmes (June 26, 2018). "GOP voters say leadership, not party rebel, strayed from their values". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  10. 1 2 3 Maya T. Prabhu (November 21, 2018). "North Georgia Republican files bill to allow permitless carry of guns". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  11. 1 2 3 Jim Galloway, Greg Bluestein & Tamar Hallerman (April 16, 2018). "The Jolt: Clarke County sheriff says he won't detain ICE targets without warrant". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  12. Greg Bluestein (December 3, 2018). "Bipartisan group blasts Ga. lawmaker who opposed hurricane relief bill". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  13. Jill Nolin. "Legislator who opposed disaster relief draws ire of fellow lawmakers". Valdosta Daily Times.
  14. 1 2 Greg Bluestein (February 14, 2017). "GOP lawmaker says Nathan Deal's top aide 'threatened' him". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  15. Doug Richards (November 20, 2018). "North Georgia Republican files bill to allow permitless carry of guns". WXIA-TV.
  16. Beau Evans, Bills sharpening rules on pharmacy drug prices in Georgia pass House, Rome News-Tribune (March 4, 2020).
  17. Dave Williams, General Assembly signs off on coronavirus emergency declaration, Dahlonega Nugget (March 16, 2020).
  18. Donna Lowry, State Lawmaker Wants Weapons Laws Suspended During State Of Emergency, Georgia Public Broadcasting (March 26, 2020).
  19. Mark Niesse (May 4, 2018). "Georgia Republicans try to oust one of their own from House". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  20. "Current and Past Election Results". Secretary of State of Georgia. Archived from the original on 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  21. 1 2 3 Ed Kilgore, Georgia Republican Raffles Assault Rifle to Defend Against 'Looting Hordes From Atlanta', New York (April 7, 2020).
  22. 1 2 3 Sarah Kallis, Election 2020: Clyde, Gurtler qualify for GOP runoff in 9th Congressional District, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (June 10, 2020).
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Where 9th District Republican candidates stand on the issues, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2020).
  24. Chris Joyner & Tia Mitchell, Georgia candidates embrace group with extremist ties, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (May 19, 2020).
  25. Jeff Gill, Andrew Clyde wins Republican nomination to US House 9th District, The Times (Gainesville, Ga.) (August 11, 2020).
  26. "GA State House 008 - R Primary 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  27. "GA State House 008 - R Runoff 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  28. "GA State House 008 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  29. "GA State House 008 - R Primary 2018". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  30. "REP- US HOUSE DIST 9". Georgia Secretary of State . Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  31. Matt Gurtler Linkedin.
  32. Legistorm Matthew Gurtler.
  33. "Meet Matt Gurtler ⋆ Matt Gurtler for Congress". Matt Gurtler for Congress. Retrieved 17 April 2020.