Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) was the resounding victor among attendees at the Davidson County Republican Party’s annual picnic event on Saturday who participated in a straw poll weighing candidates running in the August 1 Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
Ogles (pictured above) won the straw poll with 144 votes over Metro Nashville City Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who received just 48 votes.
Elected to Congress in 2022, Ogles is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and boasts a 100 percent rating on the Heritage Action Scorecard, the nation’s leading conservative scorecard.
The Davidson County Republican Party (GOP Nashville) also polled attendees on four potential Republican candidates for Tennessee Governor, which will be elected in 2026: Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07).
Green won the poll with 86 votes compared to Rose’s 45 votes, Jacobs’ 44 votes, and Sexton’s 8 votes.
Another topic regarding Tennessee, specifically Nashville, polled at Saturday’s picnic included Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s multi-billion dollar transit proposal – which is expected to be on the November ballot for voters to approve or oppose a half-cent increase to the city’s sales tax to fund the plan – and the possibility of another increase to the city’s property taxes this year.
A majority of participants voted “no” to both the mayor’s transit plan and a potential increase in property taxes.
Participants of the straw poll were also asked to rate the top issue facing the U.S. out of a dozen offered choices. The top identified issue was the economy and inflation followed by immigration and border security, and, in third place, voter integrity.
The straw poll also asked votes to rate former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
Out of a list of 19 potential choices for Trump’s 2024 running mate, the top choice among voters was U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) followed by Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“The overwhelming success of our Summer Picnic indicates the enthusiasm for Republicans in Nashville. We saw a very positive sense of community among attendees, candidates, and other politicians,” GOP Nashville Chairman Lonnie Spivak said in a statement.
“Turning Nashville red starts in each neighborhood and requires careful attention to issues and conservative voters focusing on each and every office up for election. I was so glad to see many supporters and generous sponsors at this great event. We thank them and owe them a lot,” Spivak added.
GOP Nashville’s annual picnic event was catered by Chumpy’s Restaurant & Catering and included frozen desserts made by Music City Ice Cream.
Music was provided at the event by DJ Dan Jones. The event also hosted Duane Dominy, a balloon artist.
Michael Patrick Leahy, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Tennessee Star, served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.
U.S. Representatives Rose and Ogles, Councilmember Johnston, and U.S. Senator Blackburn were all in attendance at the annual event on Saturday in addition to Tennessee State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) and State Senate candidate Wyatt Rampy.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photos by Dan Jones.
It will be difficult to turn the city of Nashville Red so long as candidates like Courtney Johnston continue to receive the support of appeasement Republicans. Eddie Mannis, Victor Ashe, Larsen Jay, Becky Massey, Richard Briggs, Bill Hallam and Cameron Sexton have all pissed down the backs of conservative in this state while benefitting from and ill-informed electorate.