Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles has officially announced his entry into the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
Ogles made his announcement on Nashville’s Morning News with Dan Mandis, heard weekday mornings on WTN 99.7 FM in Nashville.
Mandis asked Ogles, whose candidacy had been the subject of weeks of speculation, if he was going to run for TN-5. Ogles responded, “I’ve been watching carefully. I’ve been praying about it with my family, you know, and yes, I am going to be getting into the 5th Congressional District. And the reason is because the ballot is unsettled.”
Ogles continued, noting Maury County’s place in the district and his record on COVID government overreach. “Maury County is the largest county in the 5th Congressional District. I have an obligation to represent my constituents of Maury County.” he said. “You know, when you look back at COVID over these past two years, Maury County is one of the counties that led through COVID. We refused to bow to the mandates. We stayed open. We protected liberty and freedom. I don’t see in this field of candidates someone who has that track record – who is willing to stand on those principles and fight back against the government.”
Mandis added, “When I think of Andy Ogles, I really think of somebody who stood up against the mandates as the mayor of Maury County.”
Ogles described his process of handling COVID in Maury County. “Through that process, I had an obligation to defend state law, the state constitution, and the U.S. Constitution. I never wavered from that.”
Ogles famously took a consistent stand against federal and state government overreach as Maury County mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ogles also discussed his career fighting taxes and important issues, such as border security, with Mandis.
According to his current website, “Andy Ogles is a Williamson and Maury county native with deep family roots in Tennessee dating back to the founding of the state. Andy studied Political Science at MTSU and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. Â He’s had a successful career as an entrepreneur and has used his considerable experience in the non-profit sector. Andy and his wife, Monica, live on a farm in Culleoka with their three children, Adley, Drew, and Isaac.” Mayor Ogles is a Tennessee native who has lived in the state all of his life.
Ogles joins a crowded Republican primary field that includes former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell, former Brig. Gen. Kurt Winstead, Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks, Baxter Lee, Stewart Parks, and the three carpetbaggers – California native Robby Starbuck, D.C. insider Morgan Ortagus, New York native David Vitalli.
Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles’ entry means that former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada will not be entering the race. Hamada previously said that he will not run if Ogles gets into the race. State Senate aide Tres Wittum is expected to officially enter the race during the first week of April.
The 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.
83ragtop50, Andy did run for governor when Lee was running. He lost in the primary. Lee had the money. Seems that TN doesn’t really want a conservative running their state. They want wishy washy.
he’s got my vote. if only we could replace lee with an actual conservative!
Ogles talks like a conservative, yet governs like a liberal Democrat. Raised taxes and still spends $17 million more than revenues bring in. Also had the County buy him a brand new $35,000 SUV and new furniture for his office. The only thing Andy Ogles cares about is himself.
OK Fifth District movement conservatives, we finally have our candidate. If you are a stalwart conservative who has been involved with the conservative movement in Middle Tennessee and you have not spoken or listened to Andy over the past 20 years you are a rarity indeed.
Over the last few years we Tennessee conservatives have sent Diana Harshbarger (Heritage-100%!), Tim Burchett (96%), John Rose (99%), Marvelous Mark Green (96%) and David Kustoff (88%) to the U.S. House to join Scott DesJarlais (89%). Truly a record of which to be proud. Only with Andy Ogles can we be as certain as we can possibly be that this streak of excellence will be kept alive.
The people of new CD5 would be fortunate to have Andy Ogles as their Congressional Rep. I think Andy will be the winner of this race and hopefully the TN legislature will do the right thing in eliminating the fly ins trying to take this seat thus diluting the primary vote.
I sure wish that he had run for governor instead. Lee is a disaster.