Georgia U.S. Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) announced on Thursday that he will not seek another term in office, and will instead resign from Congress when his term ends in January 2025.
Ferguson announced his decision to retire from Congress in a Thursday post to X, formerly Twitter. He called his time in the U.S. House “the honor of a lifetime,” while complimenting his staff as “talented and dedicated” and constituents as “wonderful.”
“Georgia is truly a special place, and it’s calling us home,” Ferguson wrote of his decision to retire. He added, “Julie and I look forward to spending more time with our children and grandchildren while continuing to work to keep Georgia the best state in America to live and do business.”
— Congressman Drew Ferguson (@RepDrewFerguson) December 14, 2023
Georgia Republicans expressed gratitude for Ferguson’s time in Congress. Governor Brian Kemp published a statement declaring, “Ferguson has served the people of Georgia with distinction” and was a “valued partner” to Kemp’s administration. “He stood alongside us to attract record jobs and investment,” said Kemp, before calling Ferguson’s “principled leadership” a “valuable asset for both the state and the nation.”
Representative Rick Allen (R-GA-12) wrote on X that his time in Congress with Ferguson was “an honor” and said Ferguson displayed “distinction and integrity since day one.” Representative Mike Collins (R-GA-10) stated that Ferguson “had a remarkable career” and will “leave us with an incredible legacy.”
Ferguson also received kind words from outside Georgia, with Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) calling Ferugson a “friend [and] an incredible patriot who lives this country” and wrote that “Congress won’t be the same without him.”
Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) wrote on X that he considers Ferguson a “dear friend who served as my trusted Chief Deputy Whip for four years,” adding that he is “a straightforward, honest man, who cares deeply about his country and fights for what’s right.” Scalise wrote that Ferguson’s retirement “will be a huge loss for the Congress.”
.@RepDrewFerguson is a very dear friend who served as my trusted Chief Deputy Whip for four years. He's a straightforward, honest man who cares deeply about this country and fights for what's right. Anyone lucky enough to know Drew knows they can always count on his… pic.twitter.com/DE24fJqFC1
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) December 14, 2023
Ferguson was the subject of controversy during the tense selection process for the Republican Speaker of the House in October. Protesters picketed in his district, and he reported receiving death threats after he withdrew his support from Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) and instead voted for Scalise, citing alleged intimidation tactics used by Jordan’s supporters.
Georgia’s congressional delegation currently holds seats on three of the most powerful House committees, though this will change when Ferguson leaves the Ways and Means Committee and Congress in 2025.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Good I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway. I’m very disappointed that my state is denying the disenfranchisement that took place in twenty twenty and are unwilling to admit that the voter transperency groups have proven that the digital suite in place is flawed.