TN-5 Candidates Winstead and Harwell Show Significant Cash on Hand in 2nd Quarter FEC Reports, Ogles and Two Others Miss Filing Deadline

The July 15 deadline for federal candidates to file their Federal Election Commission (FEC) second-quarter campaign finance reports has passed, and six of the nine candidates for the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat have reports that are available for public viewing.

The FEC second-quarter reporting period covers April 1 through June 30.

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Epoch Times and Nashville Republican Women Hosted Unique Debate with TN-5 Candidates Beierlein, Ogles, and Wittum

The Epoch Times, the Nashville Republican Women, Williamson County Young Republicans, and Davidson County Young Republicans hosted a unique debate on Tuesday evening with TN-5 candidates combat veteran Jeff Beierlein, Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, and State Senate aide Tres Wittum participating.

Former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell was invited, but never confirmed her appearance. Kurt Winstead, confirmed his appearance but backed out at the last minute, organizers say.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Calls for Special Legislative Session to Address Dismissal of National Guard Soldiers

In a statement obtained by The Tennessee Star, Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, a candidate in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, called upon Tennessee legislative leaders to immediately issue a call for a special legislative session in order to focus on reinstating any Tennessee National Guard personnel who have been dismissed for declining to accept the COVID vaccines and boosters.

Ogles also called for steps to be taken in order to prevent any future dismissals for the same reasons.

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Veterans For America First Endorses Andy Ogles for TN-5 Seat

Formerly known as Veterans for Trump, the group Veterans For America First endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, announced the Ogles campaign in a statement.

The statement notes that, “The organization has already endorsed conservative candidates Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO), Sarah Palin (AK), Herschel Walker (GA), and Kari Lake (AZ), among others.”

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Bulk of TN-5 Republican Primary Field Stands with Tennessee National Guard Members

Most of the Republican field in the August 4 primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat has now voiced their support for the National Guard members who are scheduled to be fired on June 30 due to their defiance of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Previously reported, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell was the first TN-5 candidate to issue a statement in support of the National Guard soldiers, saying:

The Biden Administration’s forced COVID-19 vaccination policy for men and women in the military is absolutely wrong and it’s another example of more overreach by the federal government. I stand with the hundreds of National Guard members who could be removed from service and urge those who can help them to do so.

We shouldn’t fire these brave soldiers serving our country by keeping Tennessee safe. They made the decision to serve and I believe they can make their own personal medical decisions.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Says SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade is ‘Answer to Prayer’

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, a candidate in the August 4 Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, said in a statement, the “SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return decision-making authority to the people is an answer to prayer.”

Ogles talked about the historic nature of the decision and the importance defending the unborn.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Condemns Draft SEC Rule That Threatens Farmers and Others

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, a Republican candidate in the August 4 primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, announced Tuesday that he is joining U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-6) in criticizing proposed Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that impose requirements on public companies regarding their non-financial activities. 

“The proposed enhanced reporting requirements that will pressure public companies to pursue liberal political objectives regarding their environmental, social impact, and governance (ESG) policies rather than sound profit and business objectives is quite simply an assault on capitalistic and free-market principles,” Ogles said.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Calls to ‘End the Ridiculous January 6 Partisan Political Charade’

Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidate and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and congressional Democrats to “end the ridiculous January 6 partisan political charade.”

In a statement Thursday, the Republican said that the Democrat-controlled House needs to immediately end the January 6 show trial and refocus on the issues actually impacting American families.

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Exclusive: Andy Ogles Calls for 90-Day Moratorium on Federal Gas Tax Collection

In an exclusive press statement obtained by The Tennessee Star, TN-5 Republican primary candidate Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles called for the Democrat-controlled U.S. House and U.S. Senate to immediately pass a 90-day moratorium on federal gasoline and diesel taxes. 

“The absurd and destructive energy policies of the Biden Administration and the Democrat-controlled House and Senate, are producing the highest gas and diesel prices in history!” Ogles said. “As Democrats refuse to consider returning to the pre-Biden energy policies that had gas prices in the $2.20 range, the least they can do is give families a break this summer as we struggle with the Biden-flation caused by his inept and misguided energy and economic policies.”

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Andy Ogles Endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Action in TN-5 GOP Primary

Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat on Monday.

AFP Action said they endorsed Ogles because “of his track record supporting local, state, and federal policies that promote economic freedom and create opportunities that improve the lives of Tennesseans.”

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Several TN-5 Candidates Come Out Against $40 Billion Ukraine Aid Package

Several candidates in the Tennessee 5th Congressional District GOP primary have announced their public opposition to the recently approved aid package to Ukraine.

In addition to former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, candidates General Kurt Winstead, Jeff Beierlein, and Tres Wittum have come out against the $40 billion Ukraine aid package.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles on $40 Billion Ukrainian Aid Package: ‘It’s America First, Not Ukraine First’

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles praised Tennessee U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn for their votes against H.R. 7691, known as the $40 billion Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022.

In a statement, Ogles said, “It’s time we follow the words of President Trump and put America First.  At a time when mothers cannot find baby formula, we are facing runaway inflation and a disgraceful collapse of our southern border this inept Biden administration seems hellbent in destroying our economy and the middle class with it.”

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Maury County Mayor and U.S House Candidate Andy Ogles Wins Another TN-5 Straw Poll

Aaron Gulbransen, Political Reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network, reported from the Marshall County Republican Party Annual Dinner and Straw Poll in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

He interviewed several candidates in the Republican Primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, including Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell, and State Senate aide Tres Wittum.

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Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Wins Marshall County GOP 5th Congressional District Straw Poll, Disqualified Candidates Allowed to Participate

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles won the Marshall County Republican Party’s Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District straw poll by a commanding margin, a poll which was conducted during the party’s annual fundraising dinner Thursday night.

Marshall County Republican Chair Julie Quan allowed disqualified TN-5 candidates Robby Starbuck, Morgan Ortagus, and Baxter Lee to participate in the poll. In a Facebook post shared on Friday, Quan said that the former candidates would be included because the final plans for the event “were finalized prior to the changes by made the SEC.”

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Sources: Andy Ogles Will Focus on TN-5 Congressional Bid and Not Run for Re-election as Maury County Mayor

Sources close to Andy Ogles tell The Tennessee Star that he will announce later this week that he will focus on his bid for the TN-5 GOP nomination and will withdraw as a candidate for re-election as mayor of Maury County.

First elected mayor in 2018, Ogles is currently the GOP nominee for Maury County mayor in the Aug 4 county general election, which is scheduled to be held on the same day and in the same Maury County polling locations as the TN-5 GOP primary election.

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Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Dominates in Wilson County GOP TN-5 Straw Poll Results

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles dominated in a straw poll held by the Wilson County GOP, the first test of grassroots strength in the contest for the Republican nomination in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.

The straw poll was conducted at the conclusion of the candidate forum hosted by the Wilson County GOP. The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy served as the master of ceremonies. The people of Wilson County packed the room and showed tremendous excitement for the upcoming elections.

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Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada Endorses Andy Ogles for TN-5

Former Williamson County Republican Chair Omar Hamada has endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary for Tennessee’s Fifth 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.”

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Retired Brig. General and TN-5 GOP Primary Candidate Kurt Winstead Announces Key Campaign Personnel

Retired Brig. General Kurt Winstead announced key personnel additions to his campaign for the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th congressional district.

The Winstead campaign announced that Chris Devaney, campaign manager for Governor Bill Lee’s 2018 campaign, will serve as senior advisor to the campaign. Kim Kaegi, a veteran of numerous successful campaigns across Tennessee, will serve as the campaign finance consultant. Jimmy Granbery will serve as the campaign finance chairman. Granbery is currently the chairman of the H.G. Hill Company and CEO of H.G. Hill Realty Company.

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Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Declares State of Emergency in County to Protect Health Care Workers’ Rights

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles — flanked by several state legislators — declared a state of emergency in the county at a press conference  on Thursday.

Ogles said the U.S. Constitution entitles health care workers to religious exemptions and other rights of conscience to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. He also said the U.S. Constitution protects those workers from harassment or even job loss.

The Biden administration now mandates that healthcare workers vaccinate themselves against COVID-19, and Ogles warned his constituents Thursday that more than 1,000 local health care employees in Maury County could lose their jobs.

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