Maryam Abolfazli, founder of the nonprofit group Rise and Shine Tennessee, launched a bid for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District on Wednesday.
“I refuse to sit back while our fundamental values and freedoms are under threat. That’s why I’m stepping up to put an end to the extremism that’s harming our state and country,” Abolfazli, a Democrat, wrote in a social media post announcing her campaign.
Abolfazli’s nonprofit group, founded after The Covenant School shooting last year, advocates for gun control and was a strong voice in urging the Tennessee General Assembly to pass red flag laws during last year’s special session.
In addition to her work surrounding gun control, Abolfazli (pictured above) touted her pro-choice stance in her campaign announcement.
“As a mom in Tennessee, I know firsthand the importance of fighting to stop the assault on women and moms. We need to fight for policies that protect women and families. That’s why I’m standing up for abortion rights and IVF access for all Tennesseans. Every person deserves the right to make their own healthcare decisions,” Abolfazli said.
Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District is represented by Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), who has served in the position since January 2023.
Ogles successfully flipped the seat from Democrat to Republican upon winning his election in 2022, as former congressman Jim Cooper formerly represented the seat.
In recent weeks, five members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation—U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Mark Green (R-TN-07) and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN)—have endorsed Ogles’ reelection bid.
Ogles has also been endorsed by Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Utah U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04), the Republican Liberty Caucus, and former President Donald Trump.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Maryam Abolfazli” by Maryam Abolfazli.
None of these candidates should be eligible to run for congress or any other elected official position without being screened on their knowledge of our Constitution. I think a test and screening should be required and the understanding they have to follow our laws.
Infanticide worship and stealing our Constitutional rights. What a treasure.
have fun wasting your time, dem.
I quote: “I refuse to sit back while our fundamental values and freedoms are under threat. That’s why I’m stepping up to put an end to the extremism that’s harming our state and country,”
Let me point out a few issues that run counter to what you stated above.
Let’s take values first. Most people in Tennessee do not see the value in the democrats push for teaching gender fluid ideology in our schools, that would include homosexuality and gender dysphoria. I dare say the same for abortion, especially up to the third trimester. IMHO that is murder.
How about individual freedoms? Let’s take the First Amendment….the democrats working hand in hand with social media platforms and the MSM are doing all they can to stifle free speech. Just because you don’t like what someone says (especially if it’s the truth and exposes your deceitfulness) doesn’t give you the right to shut them down, or imprison them. Then we have the BLM folks who disrupted the Kyle Rittenhouse event in Memphis. The democratic party supports BLM 100%. This was a clear infringement on the First Amendment rights of the people who came to hear Mr. Rittenhouse speak.
How about the Second Amendment? If it wasn’t for the democrats soft on crime policy, maybe fewer law abiding Americans wouldn’t feel the need to be armed in self-defense. Everyone with any common sense knows that the democrats eventual goal is the total disarmament of law-abiding Americans. Your goal is to incrementally chip away at the Second Amendment until you have mandatory firearms registration which will lead to firearms confiscation.
How about “extremism”? Conservatives believe in a strict adherence to the Constitution. I guess that means the Constitution is an extremist document? How about the treatment of the protesters who have been imprisoned for the J6 BS. No protesters were armed and the police were the group that did the killing as well as using excessive force on defenseless protesters. The federal government set these people up, and are the true instigators of the protest. And while we’re on the subject of protesters, how about the democrat’s street thugs, that would be antifa. They are a classic example of an extremist group whose mission is to deny people their Constitutional rights.
Then we have election integrity. Oh, that’s right, the democrats have never cheated in an election.
Thank God most people in Tennessee are smart enough to see through the democrats smoke screen of lies and disinformation.
100 % correct. The dems still see themselves as the smartest ones in the room. Good proof that less government is better for us all.
Another dem pointing the finger at others about extremism and the end of democracy. These miscreants are a broken record. Don’t believe your lyin’ eyes, just believe me! Despicable.
“In recent weeks, five members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation—U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Mark Green (R-TN-07) and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN)—have endorsed Ogles’ reelection bid.
Ogles has also been endorsed by Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Utah U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04), the Republican Liberty Caucus, and former President Donald Trump.”
I am a resident of TN-05. Andy also has my endorsement!