Andrew Clyde, Will Wade win runoff elections

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga — Andrew Clyde, a pro-life, pro-gun, pro Trump conservative making his first run for elected office, outpolled two-term State Representative Matt Gurtler to win the Republican nomination for 9th District U.S. Congress tonight (Aug. 11).

With 95 percent of precincts reporting Clyde received 48,581 votes to Gurtler’s 37,741 in what many insiders consider an upset. The race turned ugly during the last days of the campaign. In social media and campaign flyers, Gurtler has accused Clyde, a 28-year Navy veteran, of being a thief, a Never Trumper, and someone who donated money to Democrats.

Clyde will meet Democrat Devin Pandy in the Nov. 3 general election to determine who will replace Doug Collins, who vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Pandy easily defeated Brooke Siskin, who could not overcome the bad publicity she received when she was jailed on a contempt of court charge in July. Pandy received 7,661 votes to Siskin’s 3,543.

In the race for Georgia House District 9, Dawson County native and four time Board of Education member Will Wade defeated attorney Steven Leibel. Wade received 4,959 votes to Leibel’s 2,472.