Who are the candidates running for Georgia U.S. House District 1 seat? Carter-Herring spat set

A new challenger in the Democratic 1st Congressional District has emerged victorious from the June 21 runoff to challenge longtime GOP Rep. Buddy Carter, and it's Savannah lawyer Wade Herring.

Herring edged out Carter's 2020 challenger, Joyce Marie Griggs, in the runoff after a close primary bout. Now, he'll have a chance to back up what he's been saying he'd do since 2021, "beat Buddy Carter."

But Carter's vice grip on the 1st District seat has not loosened since he first won it in 2014. In fact, Carter has held an elected position at either the local, state or federal level since 1994 — 28 consecutive years of politics.

The early buzz around Herring stemmed from his quick fundraising, and his campaign contributions crossed the $700,000 threshold as of June 1. But Carter's wallet is fat too, having raised $1.2 million by the same date. 

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Republican Buddy Carter

Carter, born and raised in Port Wentworth, has had a long career as a politician. He has been a Pooler city council member, the Pooler mayor, a statehouse representative and held a Georgia Senate seat before being elected to his federal post in 2014.

In Congress, Carter serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Budget Committee. He owned Carter's Pharmacy on U.S. 80 in Pooler for 32 years.

Carter believes in protecting the 2nd Amendment, and opposes "efforts to expand gun control and restrict access to legal gun use." Carter is against abortions as well, calling the Roe v. Wade decision "tragic and injudicious" on his website. 

Wade Herring

Herring, a lawyer at HunterMaclean Law Firm, says he was inspired to run after seeing current 1st District Rep. Buddy Carter’s reaction to the Jan. 6 riot in the U.S. Capitol and his vote to overturn the election results.

Herring grew up in Macon, graduating from Central High School in 1976. After that, he attended Dartmouth College and the University of Georgia Law School. This is his first run for an elected position at any level.

On guns, Herring is for expanding background checks, reinstating the assault weapons ban and limiting legal magazine capacity. He's also pro-choice. Herring said if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, "Congress must act to restore women's reproductive rights."

Will Peebles is the enterprise reporter for Savannah Morning News. He can be reached at wpeebles@gannett.com and @willpeeblessmn on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Election 2022: Get to know the candidates for U.S. House District 1