Former State Department spokesman and now-former candidate for the GOP nomination for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat Morgan Ortagus issued a statement on the decision by the select committees of the Tennessee Republican Party to disqualify her candidacy.
“I am deeply disappointed in the SEC’s decision,” she said. “I’m a bona fide Republican by their standards, and frankly, by any metric. I’m further disappointed that the party insiders at the Tennessee Republican Party do not seem to share my commitment to President Trump’s America First policies. As I have said all along, I believe that voters in Middle Tennessee should pick their representative – not establishment party insiders. Our team is evaluating the options before us.”
The members of the TNGOP State Executive Committee that disqualified Ortagus clearly disagreed with her contentions.
It is unclear if “evaluating the options before us” includes filing a lawsuit. Any lawsuit filed against the TNGOP’s decision to remove candidates from the ballot is unlikely to go anywhere. Both the GOP and the Democrat parties in Tennessee are empowered by state law to decide whether or not a candidate attempting to run in a party primary is fit to run under their respective banners.
As reported earlier Tuesday evening, a source told The Tennessee Star that Ortagus only received three votes from the committee of 17 to be restored to the ballot, and votes regarding the other two TN-5 hopefuls were not even close.
Further sources tell The Star that her carpetbagger status, lack of Tennessee ties, and the fact that she never voted in a single election in the state led to her downfall. California native Robby Starbuck and Baxter Lee were also disqualified.
Members of the Tennessee Republican Party SEC are scheduled to vote on challenges to candidates in other races around the state tomorrow.
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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, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “Morgan Ortagus” by Minority Reporters CC3.0
“In his gut, he does not think that Americans should be, quote
unquote, the policemen of the world,” she said during a panel discussion
dissecting Trump’s foreign policy speech.
“I don’t see it that way. I think that America is the glue that
holds the world together. … So there were points that I agreed with him
today, but overall, I fundamentally disagree with his isolationist
approach to foreign policy,” she added
America first, huh?
I think all of these candidates are fine But you cant represent people you don’t know I”m not sure about voting in any election, should or not disqualify .But should have lived in this state for a lest 5 years maybe 10
I think it best that she was disqualified.
She seems the insincere candidate for sure.
Filing a law suit is probably not worth her time based upon the Kurita case in 2012 decided by Judge Echols and reaffirmed by the 6th Circuit. She misplayed her hand.
Her arrogance and ignorance were distinct turnoffs for me. Her interview on the radio where she couldnt name the highways that ran thru Nashville was shocking. She knew NOTHING and failed all 5 Basic Knowledge questions put to her.
She really thought she could parachute into TN with an endorsement (very premature and uninformed) from PDT and sail to Congress. She honestly thought the stupid, backward Tennesseeans would elect her strictly on PDT’s misguided endorsement. Wrong
Parachute by Giorgio Armani
Carpetbag by Louie Vuitton
Dr Ken, she can certainly help her brand if she would engage in the Tennessee Republican Party in a meaningful way. The war chest all three of these folks have amassed would go a long way in strengthening County Parties throughout the state. There are four Democrat controlled strongholds we could use their help with.
Her arrogance was a turn off for me. She assumed Tennesseeans would greet her with open arms without doing the work. Fund raising in DC and only doing national media. She wreaks of the Liz Cheney approach to politics.
She needs to put her time in, get to know the area and the constituents. Then she can primary Marsha, Marsha, Marsha.
she thought she would be a shoe in because President Trump endorsed her.. She is not what District 5 wants in a Representative I have read everything she has said about President Trump, and I can’t fathom why he would endorse her. I think the only reason was because Mike Pompeo vouched for her. But go read some of the nasty things she is quoted as saying about Trump. She can still run as an independent in November, she just can’t run in the primary. Let’s see if she goes through with that lame lawsuit.
A dangerous and selfish person, not a public servant.
There is just something about this woman that grates on me. I saw her in an interview last night on John Solomon’s “Just the News”. She was interviewed by Amanda Head who asked her a question about what did people in the 5th district have to say about high food prices when Ortegus has been meeting with people. Ortegus couldn’t even answer the question by referencing what the people of the 5th had to say. She responded about people in general. Does actually go out to meet people in the 5th District? I generally will try to support women who are conservative but this one plainly annoys me and appears very plastic/fake.
Ortagus by any metric was welcome to run for any elected office. Her decision to attempt to secure the nomination of the Republican Party without meeting their metric demonstrates hubris. That is a trait that we need less of in government. Humility and reverence for the task you say you wish to perform on behalf of the American public and the people of the state of Tennessee was sorely lacking. Filing a lawsuit would futher demonstrate that fact.
I agree with Randy, Ms. Ortagus did not satisfy party criteria and frankly, should have known that before seeking party support.