U.S. Rep Barry Loudermilk’s surprise announcement in February that he would not seek reelection sparked a mad scramble. Eight candidates qualified to replace the six-term incumbent in Georgia’s 11th Congressional District.
The last two standing are a Republican neurosurgeon and a Democratic attorney who will face off in the Nov. 3 general election.
John Cowan won a Republican runoff in June to claim the GOP spot on the ballot. Chris Harden won the Democratic slot in the May primary.
The district, which includes counties in the north Atlanta suburbs and exurbs along I-75, leans heavily Republican. Loudermilk won in 2024 with 67% of the vote.
Here are the candidates:
Democrat:
Chris Harden
Credit: Courtesy
Credit: Courtesy
Harden owns an estate planning and probate law firm with his wife in Woodstock and also represents children and families as a government-appointed attorney in juvenile courts.
He has stressed his upbringing in a mobile home in the northwest corner of the state, arguing that the rural poverty he experienced as a child has led him to focus on affordability measures to help working families.
Republican:
John Cowan
Credit: andy calvert
Credit: andy calvert
The Rome-based neurosurgeon and business owner finished second to Marjorie Taylor Greene when he ran in Georgia’s 14th District in 2020.
For his current campaign in a new district, he is pitching himself as a “conservative outsider” who would focus on fixing problems he says were created by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
During the GOP primary, Cowan was attacked for his past criticism of President Donald Trump, including mocking the QAnon conspiracy theory as “the religion of Trump devotees.” Trump didn’t make an endorsement in the race.
Cowan has since thrown his support behind the president and noted that some of the president’s cabinet members had at one time been Trump critics.
He lent his campaign about $1.6 million, choosing to mostly self-fund.
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