History of Andrew Clyde in Timeline

Andrew Scott Clyde is a Republican politician and gun store owner serving as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district since 2021. His district encompasses a largely exurban and rural area northeast of Atlanta, including Gainesville, Toccoa, Hartwell, and Dahlonega.

November 22, 1963: Birth of Andrew Clyde

Andrew Scott Clyde was born on November 22, 1963 in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada.

1985: Andrew Clyde Commissioned as Officer in the US Navy

Andrew Clyde graduated from Bethel University and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy through the University of Notre Dame's NROTC program in 1985.

1991: Andrew Clyde Starts Clyde Armory

Andrew Clyde started his gun shop, Clyde Armory, Inc., as a hobby business in his garage in 1991.

1994: Andrew Clyde Settles in Athens, Georgia

In 1994, Andrew Clyde settled in Athens, Georgia, where he had previously taught at the Navy Supply Corps School.

1999: Andrew Clyde Earns MBA from University of Georgia

Andrew Clyde received his Master of Business Administration in corporate finance and entrepreneurship from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business in 1999.

1999: Clyde Armory Obtains Commercial Real Estate

In 1999, Clyde Armory obtained commercial real estate, marking a step towards its expansion.

2010: Clyde Armory Moves to a Custom-Built Facility

Clyde Armory moved to a new, custom-built 12,400-square-foot facility in 2010, signifying significant business growth.

2013: Andrew Clyde Retires from the US Navy

After 28 years of service, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, Andrew Clyde retired from the US Navy with the rank of commander in 2013.

2013: Andrew Clyde Makes Charitable Donation

Andrew Clyde demonstrated his commitment to his community in 2013 by donating a 5,000-square-foot facility to the Mercy Health Center and Athens Crisis Pregnancy Center, a non-profit organization.

2013: Andrew Clyde Faces and Overcomes IRS Civil Asset Forfeiture

In 2013, Andrew Clyde experienced a significant challenge when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seized $940,000 of his assets through civil asset forfeiture. This action was later reversed, and Clyde received a refund of $900,000.

2014: Clyde Armory Opens Second Location

Andrew Clyde expanded his business, Clyde Armory, by opening a second location in Warner Robins, Georgia, in 2014.

2019: Congress Passes Taxpayer First Act with Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

In 2019, following his experience with civil asset forfeiture, Andrew Clyde's advocacy for reform led to the passing of the Taxpayer First Act. This act included the Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act, which places limitations on the government's ability to seize funds.

2020: Andrew Clyde Runs for Congress and Sues Athens, Georgia

In 2020, Andrew Clyde ran for Congress in Georgia's 9th congressional district. That same year, he also filed a lawsuit against Athens, Georgia, challenging the city's COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions.

January 3, 2021: Andrew Clyde Sworn into Office

Andrew Clyde officially began his term in the US House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 9th district, on January 3, 2021, after defeating Democratic nominee Devin Pandy in the general election.

January 6, 2021: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Certifying 2020 Election Results

On January 6, 2021, during the counting of the 2020 Electoral College votes, Andrew Clyde joined 120 other Republican representatives in voting against the certification of the presidential election results for both Arizona and Pennsylvania.

March 17, 2021: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Honoring US Capitol Police

On March 17, 2021, Andrew Clyde was one of 12 House Republicans who opposed a bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the US Capitol Police officers who defended the Capitol during the January 6th attack.

May 2021: Andrew Clyde Downplays Capitol Attack and Refuses Handshake with Injured Officer

During a House Oversight Committee hearing in May 2021, Andrew Clyde downplayed the severity of the January 6th Capitol attack, referring to it as "no insurrection" and likening the event to a "normal tourist visit." He faced criticism for these comments, particularly after refusing to shake hands with a Capitol Police officer who had been injured during the attack.

June 2021: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Honoring US Capitol Police (Again)

Andrew Clyde persisted in his opposition to awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the US Capitol Police officers who protected the Capitol on January 6th, joining 20 other House Republicans in voting against a similar resolution in June 2021.

June 2021: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Juneteenth Holiday

In June 2021, Andrew Clyde was among 14 House Republicans who opposed legislation to formally recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. His reasoning, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was his dislike of the holiday's full title, "Juneteenth National Independence Day," despite supporting the holiday itself.

2021: Andrew Clyde Assumes Office in the US House of Representatives

Andrew Clyde assumed office as a representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2021.

2021: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Certifying 2020 Election Results and Downplays Capitol Attack

In 2021, Andrew Clyde voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results for both Arizona and Pennsylvania. He also stirred controversy by describing the January 6th Capitol attack as "no insurrection" and comparing it to a "normal tourist visit," despite previously admitting to helping barricade the House chamber against the rioters.

February 28, 2022: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Emmett Till Antilynching Act

On February 28, 2022, Andrew Clyde was one of only three representatives to vote against the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, a bill that formally classified lynching as a federal hate crime.

April 2022: Andrew Clyde Blocks Naming of Federal Building After Joseph W. Hatchett

In April 2022, Andrew Clyde spearheaded a Republican effort to prevent a federal building in Florida from being named after Joseph W. Hatchett, the first Black State Supreme Court judge in Florida and the South since the Reconstruction era. Clyde defended this action by citing Hatchett's ruling against school prayer. This move was considered unusual, as the naming of federal buildings is typically a non-controversial process.

November 3, 2022: Andrew Clyde Introduces the BIDEN Act

On November 3, 2022, Andrew Clyde introduced the Expose Biden's Inflation, Deficits, and Economic Neglect (BIDEN) Act.

February 2023: Andrew Clyde Co-Sponsors Bill to Declare AR-15-Style Rifle as National Gun

In February 2023, Andrew Clyde showed his strong support for gun rights by co-sponsoring a bill that aimed to designate the "AR-15-style rifle" as the National Gun of the United States.

2023: Andrew Clyde Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act

Andrew Clyde was among the 71 Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

2023: Andrew Clyde Votes to Support Israel After Hamas Attack

Following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Andrew Clyde voted in favor of providing support to Israel.

March 5, 2024: Clyde's Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act Progresses in House

On March 5, 2024, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a bipartisan decision with a vote of 34 to 13, favorably reported Andrew Clyde's Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act.