GLORIA JOHNSON WINS
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WALSH WINS FOURTH MEDAL
AUGUST 8, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 31
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Group against sales tax for transit referendum emerges
Election commission to review transportation effort for November ballot NICOLLE S. PRAINO
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Ogles fends off Johnston in GOP primary Despite money and establishment connections, Republicans fail to depose far-right incumbent in District 5 ELI MOTYCKA
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles narrowly avoided a primary upset from Courtney Johnston in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District GOP primary. Ogles will face Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in the general election on Nov. 5. Johnston, a Metro councilmember who earned money and support from Tennessee’s Republican establishment throughout her bid against Ogles, eyed the seat after a series of scandals and controversy damaged Ogles’ credibility. She announced her bid, backed by campaign treasurer and well-connected Republican fundraiser Kim Kaegi, in February. Rather than focus on policy — both broadly agree on mainstream GOP positions against immigration, legal abortion and gun control — Johnston’s challenge hammered Ogles for lacking professionalism and antagonizing party leadership. Her
campaign raised more than $700,000 with the help of Kaegi, formerly a fundraiser for top Republicans including Gov. Bill Haslam and Sens. Fred Thompson and Bob Corker. Ogles has fought campaign finance violations and ethical quandaries since taking office in 2022. He was among the handful of House representatives who worked against former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, briefly rendering the chamber speakerless last fall. High name recognition and a national media presence helped buoy Ogles through the tight primary race. Republicans are favored in the general election for the congressional seat, which was redrawn in 2022 by GOP state lawmakers. In name, the district had long belonged to Davidson County and was held for decades by centrist Democrat Rep. >> PAGE 2
The Davidson County Election Commission approved the transit referendum to go on the Nov. 5 ballot at its meeting on Aug. 1. Metro Council approved the legislation that included the ballot language at its July 16 meeting. “Nashvillians, we’ve heard you. We can do better than our current transportation reality,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in a statement after the decision. “As I said when we introduced the Choose How You Move program in April, this is how we stop kicking the can down the road on a problem and As the state and federal primaries closed this past week, the candidates will race to the finish in November along with the presidential election. With the highest office in the U.S. on the ballot, turnout is likely to be higher than in other elections. In a transition document from when O’Connell took office, it was recommended to hold the referendum vote in a high-turnout election to maximize success, noting Nov. 5 as the next opportunity meant quick action. The document also highlighted that model was not followed in Nashville’s 2018 referendum which was held in May. The last referendum also saw significant political action committee opposition groups throwing in millions to stop the effort. This time around, Axios reports one such group is just starting up. The Committee Against an Unfair Tax is filing paperwork to raise money against the effort, according to Axios. The group is being organized by former Metro Councilmember Emily Evans, Davidson County Republican Party leader Beth Campbell and attorney >> PAGE 2
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