# U.S. House — District 9 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia U.S. House — District 9 stand — bio, prior offices, top donors, positions on DEI, LGBTQ+, abortion, and data centers, plus any scandals. Sourced. *Source: https://thegafiles.com/candidates/us-house-09.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # U.S. House — District 9 D ### Caitlyn Gegen Democratic nominee A progressive UGA alumna challenging Andrew Clyde in the deep-red 9th District. She runs on a systemic-change platform built around universal healthcare, affordable living, and human rights, and has hammered Clyde for skipping town halls. She won the 2026 Democratic primary over retired banker Nick Alex. #### Previously held - Progressive organizer / UGA alumna - First-time candidate #### Top contributors A grassroots, small-dollar campaign — about $21,000 raised, mostly from individuals and with no PAC money — in a district that votes heavily Republican. No insider PAC base. Filed with the FEC. **$20,663** raised · **$953** cash on hand — as of **Apr 29, 2026** (FEC latest filing). Source: [FEC — Caitlyn Gegen](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6GA09284/) · [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt Runs on systemic economic change — stronger antitrust enforcement to “break up monopolies” and public investment in clean energy — over austerity; as a first-time candidate she has no voting record. Source: [Now Georgia — Gegen platform](https://nowgeorgia.com/gegen-pitches-progressive-platform-systemic-change-in-9th-district-race/) · [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Education Supports robust public-education investment as part of her affordable-living agenda. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Healthcare Her centerpiece — restoring ACA subsidies and moving to a Medicare for All system covering medical, mental, dental and vision care. Source: [Now Georgia — Gegen platform](https://nowgeorgia.com/gegen-pitches-progressive-platform-systemic-change-in-9th-district-race/) Social Security reform Defends Social Security and Medicare and opposes cuts. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Minimum Wage Supports raising the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. Source: [Now Georgia — Gegen platform](https://nowgeorgia.com/gegen-pitches-progressive-platform-systemic-change-in-9th-district-race/) Homelessness Calls for expanding government-supported housing and boosting supply to improve affordability. Source: [Now Georgia — Gegen platform](https://nowgeorgia.com/gegen-pitches-progressive-platform-systemic-change-in-9th-district-race/) Veterans Affairs Supports strengthening veterans' services, part of her broader social-investment platform. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Immigration Frames immigration around human rights and humane reform. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Gun Control Supports gun-safety measures, though she leads with healthcare and affordability. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Abortion Supports abortion rights and restoring Roe-era protections as a human-rights issue. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) LGBTQ+ A strong supporter of LGBTQ+ equality, central to her human-rights platform. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) DEI Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion as core to her progressive agenda. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Marijuana Aligns with progressive support for marijuana legalization and reform. Source: [Caitlyn Gegen — campaign](https://www.caitlynforgeorgia.com/) Data centers & AI Backs clean-energy investment and breaking up corporate monopolies, but has not detailed a specific AI or data-center policy. Source: [Now Georgia — Gegen platform](https://nowgeorgia.com/gegen-pitches-progressive-platform-systemic-change-in-9th-district-race/) #### Scandals None documented. R ### Andrew Clyde Republican incumbent A hardline conservative and gun-store owner representing the deep-red northeast Georgia 9th District since 2021. A Navy combat veteran and House Freedom Caucus member, he is one of the chamber's most aggressive fiscal hawks and gun-rights absolutists, and drew national attention for describing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as resembling a “normal tourist visit.” He won renomination in 2026. #### Previously held - U.S. House, GA-09 (2021–present) - House Freedom Caucus member; Appropriations Committee - Gun-store owner; U.S. Navy combat veteran #### Top contributors Funded by hardline-conservative leadership PACs and business interests — the House Freedom Fund, a pair of conservative leadership PACs, Home Depot, SpaceX, and the auto dealers all give to him. Filed with the FEC. - $7,000.00 — Let's Get to Work PAC (leadership PAC) - $6,000.00 — Conservative Opportunity Leadership & Enterprise PAC (leadership PAC) - $5,000.00 — House Freedom Fund (Freedom Caucus) - $5,000.00 — The Home Depot PAC (retail) - $5,000.00 — SpaceX PAC (aerospace) - $5,000.00 — National Automobile Dealers Assn PAC (auto dealers) **$603,258** raised · **$384,569** cash on hand — as of **Apr 29, 2026** (FEC latest filing). Source: [FEC — Andrew Clyde](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H0GA09075/) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt One of the House's most hardline fiscal hawks — a Freedom Caucus appropriator who routinely votes against spending bills and debt-limit increases he says don't cut enough, demanding deep reductions. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) · [Clyde — House site](https://clyde.house.gov/) Education Supports school choice and abolishing the federal Department of Education, returning control to states. Source: [Clyde — House site](https://clyde.house.gov/) Healthcare Opposes the ACA and favors market-based healthcare and less federal involvement. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Social Security reform Says current seniors' benefits should be protected while pressing for broader spending restraint; has not endorsed specific benefit cuts. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Minimum Wage Opposes raising the federal minimum wage. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Homelessness Has not made housing or homelessness a focus. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Veterans Affairs A Navy combat veteran who supports veterans' programs and a strong military. Source: [Clyde — House site](https://clyde.house.gov/) Immigration A border hardliner who supports mass-enforcement measures and opposes amnesty. Source: [Clyde — House site](https://clyde.house.gov/) Gun Control His signature cause — a gun-store owner and Second Amendment absolutist who has pushed to repeal the National Firearms Act's taxes and opposes all new gun restrictions. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Abortion Anti-abortion, in line with the district's conservative base. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) LGBTQ+ Aligns with socially conservative GOP positions and opposes new LGBTQ+ protections. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) DEI Opposes DEI programs and federal diversity initiatives. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Marijuana Has not pushed federal marijuana reform. Source: [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) Data centers & AI Has not detailed an AI or data-center policy; broadly favors limited regulation and domestic energy. Source: [Clyde — House site](https://clyde.house.gov/) #### PPP loan Forgiven **$154,950** — Clyde Armory, Inc. (Bogart, GA), April 2020. The firearms retailer Rep. Clyde founded and owns. The loan was fully forgiven ($156,697 with interest). Clyde has been a vocal opponent of federal student-loan forgiveness. Sources - [ProPublica — Tracking PPP](https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/loans/clyde-armory-inc-6043197209) - [Atlanta Journal-Constitution](https://www.ajc.com/politics/white-house-calls-out-republicans-who-blast-debt-cancellation-but-had-ppp-loans/BMN3MJFIRVH7JIAZI2OUKNXQ3Y/) #### Scandals None documented. [GA Files fact sheet](https://thegafiles.com/AndrewClyde.html) · [Ballotpedia — Andrew Clyde](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Clyde) [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/us-house-09.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/us-house-09.offline.html) Every entry is drawn from published reporting, official records, or the candidate's own statements, with sources on each item. Policy summaries are condensed from that reporting and reflect the candidate's stated positions; where a matter is an allegation or unresolved, that is noted, and inclusion is not a finding of guilt. Contributor figures are early/partial where the official itemized filings (Georgia Ethics Commission) are still being compiled. Corrections welcome via the contact link in the footer. Last updated 2026-06-17.