Former Williamson County Republican Chair Omar Hamada has endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.
Hamada had previously considered running for TN-5 himself, but had declared that he would not run if Ogles jumped in. Hamada told The Tennessee Star prior to Ogles’ official announcement that he was against running if Ogles ran because, in his view, he did not want to split the conservative vote.
“Basically, I think we are the old two true, solid conservatives, and I don’t want to split the vote and have a moderate win,” he said.
Hamada endorsed Ogles on social media.
“This is a battle for the very soul of our nation formed as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. It’s become something very different. We have a duty to fight for America for us, for our children, and for the world.” he said. “Now that Andy is in, I’m out, and I will fully support him in his quest for this seat. I will do all in my power to assure he wins this race and joins other strong Christian constitutional conservatives like my friends Mark Green and Scott DesJarlais in Congress. I will remain active as a vocal light on the hill so I’m not going away.”
Hamada is an emergency room doctor, a former Special Forces flight surgeon, and an OB/GYN. Hamada earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Union University, a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University, and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
Ogles officially entered the Republican primary for TN-5 on Tuesday.
Other candidates in the crowded Republican field include former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell, former Brig. Gen. Kurt Winstead, Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks, businessman Baxter Lee, Stewart Parks, and the three carpetbaggers – California native Robby Starbuck, D.C. insider Morgan Ortagus, New York native David Vitalli. Senate aide Tres Wittum is expected to enter the race in the coming weeks.
The Republican bona fide statuses of Ortagus, Starbuck, Vitalli, and Lee have been challenged to the Tennessee Republican Party, so it is possible that one or all of them may find themselves off the August 4 GOP primary ballot.
There is still time for other candidates to emerge. The filing deadline to turn in qualifying petitions is April 7.
Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties; and all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “Omar Hamada” by Omar Hamada. Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles.Â
