New Member: GOP Dentist Replaces Westmoreland in Georgia’s 3rd District
Drew Ferguson was also mayor of a small town
Republican Drew Ferguson will defeat Democrat Angela Pendley in Georgia’s 3rd District, The Associated Press projects.
Ferguson led Pendley 73 percent to 27 percent, with 24 percent of precincts reporting.
He replaces incumbent GOP Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who is retiring after six terms.
Georgia’s rural 3rd District is situated on the western side of the state, bordering Alabama. It encompasses some of the outer suburbs of Atlanta and parts of Columbus. Some of the district’s major economic drivers include health care, military and service jobs, and manufacturing.
Coming into Election Day, the race was rated Safe Republican by The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call. Westmoreland previously had no trouble winning this solid Republican district and was unopposed in his two most recent re-election efforts.
Ferguson finished second in the May 24 primary against a crowded field but won the July 26 runoff to secure the GOP nomination. He received endorsements from much of the Georgia Republican establishment, including from Westmoreland.
[Georgia Runoff Will Decide State’s Next Congressman]
Ferguson is a small-government conservative who says he wants to see Washington promote free-market policies and leave state and local issues to those governments.
Ferguson is a native of West Point, a small town in western Georgia, where he has worked as a dentist for over 20 years. After a short stint on the city’s Board of Aldermen in the late 1990s, he was elected mayor in 2007. He credits the business-friendly climate he promoted in office for helping to bring new jobs and economic activity to the area.
The congressman-elect is particularly interested in reducing the reach of the federal government, influencing banking policy, and fixing the health care system.
Contact Bowman at bridgetbowman@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter @bridgetbhc.