Kurt Winstead Serves on Arts Commission That Distributes Taxpayer Funds to Black Lives Matter-Connected Organizations

Attorney and Tennessee 5th Congressional candidate Kurt Winstead sits as a commissioner on the Tennessee Arts Commission, distributing millions of dollars in grants to various groups, including Marxist political groups and one that a Black Lives Matter activist chairs.

The Tennessee Arts Commission, according to a spreadsheet provided to The Tennessee Star, has distributed $35,866,258.95 in grants during the fiscal year 2022.

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Sterling Marlin Endorses Kurt Winstead in TN-5 Race

Kurt Winstead’s campaign announced Friday that retired NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin endorsed Winstead in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.

“General Winstead and I are both farm boys with strong conservative Republican values. I’ve spent time with him on several occasions, and I have no doubt that he will fight tooth and nail to defeat the Biden-Pelosi agenda in Washington. I am proud to offer my full support and endorsement to General Winstead as the next Congressman of Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, said Marlin in a statement.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Sues Winstead Friendly Super PAC That Launched Attack Ad Against Him

Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidate Andy Ogles filed suit on Tuesday in the Circuit Court for Williamson County, Tennessee, at Franklin against the Tennessee Conservatives PAC, a super PAC connected to Kurt Winstead’s campaign for the TN-5 seat that recently started attack ads against him.

According to a statement made by the Ogles campaign, “[T]he suit calls on the PAC to take down an ad that falsely accuses Ogles of not paying property taxes, highlighting false accusations the PAC ran on television in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in an attempt to maliciously defame Ogles and harm his congressional campaign.”

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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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Combat Veteran Jeff Beierlein on Kurt Winstead Skipping TN-5 Debate: ‘First Time in Tennessee History a General Ran from a Fight’

TN-5 candidate and combat veteran Jeff Beierlein criticized retired National Guard Brigadier General Kurt Winstead for agreeing to and later skipping the Epoch Times 5th Congressional District candidates debate held on Tuesday, saying, “this is the first time in Tennessee history, a general’s ran from the fight.”

Prior to Beierlein’s statement, debate moderator, Epoch Times Editor-at-Large Roger Simon, who is also an All-Star Panelist of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy, mentioned that Winstead agreed to the debate, the organizers moved the time of the debate to accommodate him, and then he [Winstead] dropped out.

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Club for Growth-Affiliated Super PAC Launches $400K in TV and Radio Attack Ads Against Kurt Winstead and Beth Harwell in TN-5 Race

On Friday, a Club for Growth-controlled federal super PAC, the School Freedom Fund PAC, launched a nearly $400,000 television and radio attack advertising blitz against Kurt Winstead and Beth Harwell in the August 4 Republican primary in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.

The ads attack Winstead’s Democrat voter and donor history as well as Harwell’s endorsement in the 2018 Tennessee governor’s race from a teacher’s association that endorsed in both the Republican and Democrat primaries.

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Kurt Winstead’s Democrat Donations and Voting Activity in Tennessee State and Local Races Revealed

TN-5 candidate and retired Brigadier General Kurt Winstead’s past history of donating to Democratic Party candidates and causes in federal races has been well documented, and now, additional Democrat donations in Tennessee state races have been discovered.

A search of the Tennessee Online Campaign Finance website, which contains campaign finance reports dating back to at least 2000, shows that Winstead personally donated on at least seven occasions to Democratic campaigns.

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Kurt Winstead’s Democrat Lobbyist Wife Won’t Deny Reports of Campaign Influence and Lobbying in Favor of Anti-Carpetbagger Residency Bill

Multiple sources tell The Tennessee Star that TN-5 candidate Kurt Winstead’s wife Beth Winstead, who many describe as a Democrat lobbyist, advocated in favor of the three-year residency law which mandates that candidates in federal race in Tennessee must be residents of the state for three years in order to qualify to be on a partisan primary ballot.

That residency law passed both the state House and state Senate overwhelming in late March and became law without Governor Lee’s signature. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office later said that legislation would not take effect for the 2022 elections.

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TN-5 Candidate Kurt Winstead Promotes Endorsement by Woke Union

The campaign of former Brigadier General Kurt Winstead, a Republican candidate in the August 4 primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, announced an endorsement by a woke union, IAFF Local 4381 Columbia Firefighters Association on Tuesday.

IAFF Local 4381 Columbia Firefighters Association honored and celebrated “Pride Month” by changing their profile photo on social media to the now commonly recognized “LGBTQ Pride” rainbow colors on June 1.

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Additional Tennessee National Guardsmen Express Frustration with Governor Lee and Kurt Winstead’s ‘Coordinated Message’ on Firings

More Tennessee National Guardsmen reached out to The Tennessee Star on Friday in order to rebut the coordinated messaging between TN-5 candidate and former National Guard General Kurt Winstead and Governor Bill Lee on the issue of soldier firings due to a COVID-19 mandate and the role that the governor can play.

The deadline for soldiers to comply with the mandate has now passed.

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Former Tennessee National Guard General Winstead Aligns with Gov. Lee’s Inaction on COVID-19 Mandate Soldier Firings

Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidate and former Tennessee National Guard General Kurt Winstead aligned with Governor Bill Lee’s inaction and disinformation on the guardsmen firings due to their refusal to accept the COVID-19 vaccine shot Thursday.

“I believe that the governor is working behind the scenes, doing everything in his power to help the Tennessee National Guard – no question in my mind,” said Winstead In an interview conducted by Matt Murphy on SuperTalk 99.7 fm WTN.

Winstead defended Lee’s inaction, insisting that there was nothing the governor can do to help the guardsmen, and that only the federal government can take action.

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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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Exclusive: TN-5 Candidate Kurt Winstead Announces ‘Strong American Families Plan’

Family

In an exclusive statement provided to The Tennessee Star, Kurt Winstead’s campaign in the Republican nomination contest for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District unveiled its “Strong American Families Plan.”

“Out of control gas prices and inflation, in addition to historic crime rates, are threatening American families. Joe Biden and the Democrats caused this problem. But conservative Republicans are going to be the ones to fix it,” said the retired general.

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Democrat Judge Favors Carpetbagger Starbuck, Denies Carpetbagger Ortagus’ Request to Be Placed on TN-5 Ballot

Elected Democrat Chancery Court Judge Russell Perkins, who ordered Robby Starbuck to be placed on the TN-5 Republican primary ballot, denied disqualified candidate and fellow carpetbagger Morgan Ortagus’ motion to be enjoined to his order and be placed on the ballot.

According to court documents, Ortagus filed a motion to be enjoined to Starbuck’s ruling on Tuesday. Her request was promptly denied by Judge Perkins on the same day.

Perkins cited two reasons for his denial. “First, the motion is not accompanied by a ‘verified complaint, affidavit, or other evidence that the movant’s [Ortagus’] rights are being or will be violated,'” he wrote.

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Kurt Winstead Campaign Announces Trip to U.S. Southern Border

TN-5 Republican primary candidate and retired Tennessee National Guard General Kurt Winstead’s campaign announced that he will be visiting the U.S. southern border on Sunday and Monday in order to view the problems himself.

“Illegal immigration is one of the biggest problems facing our country. We must act immediately to find solve this crisis. This is a national security issue and it is directly threatening the safety and security of Americans,” said General Winstead in an emailed statement.

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Disqualified Candidate Morgan Ortagus Backs Winstead for TN-5, Joins Campaign National Security Advisory Committee

General Kurt Winstead’s campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat announced that disqualified TN-5 candidate Morgan Ortagus joined his newly formed national security advisory committee as a co-chair.

Ortagus’ bio in the campaign statement says, “Morgan Ortagus, a U.S. Navy Reserve officer and former Spokesperson for the United States Department of State during President Trump’s Administration. She was instrumental in promoting the Abraham Accords and most recently launched Polaris National Security, a group focused on restoring international strength and respect for America.”

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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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Retired General Kurt Winstead Announces $520,000 Fundraising Haul in Race for TN-5 Seat

Gen. Kurt Winstead

Retired Tennessee National Guard General Kurt Winstead has announced that he has raised more than $520,000 in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.

Winstead’s campaign announced that 99% of those funds were from Tennessee, and 73% were from the counties within the new boundaries of TN-5, Davidson, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Williamson and Wilson Counties.

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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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Former Brigadier General Kurt Winstead Formally Announces Candidacy for TN-5, Joining a Crowded GOP Field

Former Brigadier General Kurt Winstead has formally announced his candidacy for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, entering the Republican primary.

Winstead formally joins the Republican field that includes former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell, businessman Baxter Lee, Natisha Brooks, California native Robby Starbuck, and recent Tennessee immigrant and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus. Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles has not yet announced whether his will enter the race or not.

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Recent TN-5 Republican Primary Entrant Baxter Lee Voted in 2020 Democrat Presidential Primary

Baxter Lee

Records show that a recent entrant into the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, businessman Baxter Lee, voted in the 2020 Democrat presidential primary. 

The Tennessee Star reached out to Baxter Lee to confirm the authenticity of the voting record supplied by the Williamson County Election Commission. Lee confirmed the records and issued a statement on his vote in the 2020 Democrat presidential primary.

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