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OCTOBER 31, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 43
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Republicans outraise Democrats in federal races NICOLLE S. PRAINO
Rep. Andy Ogles
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Maryam Abolfazli
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Scandal-plagued Ogles defends 5th Congressional District seat HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Embattled, controversy-plagued U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District is defending his record, as his challenger Maryam Abolfazli has energized Democratic voters in the gerrymandered district. The Trump-endorsed freshman congressman touts support from U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and conservative PAC Americans for Prosperity Action, with Ogles declaring that “Republicans have to win if you want a prosperous economy.” In early 2023, less than two months after the former Maury County mayor beat Democratic state Sen. Heidi Campbell by nearly 14 points in the newly redrawn 5th, Ogles joined the far-right wing of the party in opposing fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker of the House. Months later, McCarthy was ousted from the speaker’s chair. “I stand on my record,” Ogles told The News in July of this year. But that record has been called into question by Republicans and
Democrats alike. Ogles has been the subject of numerous reports noting his false statements about his professional and educational background and qualifications, unaccounted-for money meant for a children’s burial garden, civil penalty payments for multiple campaign finance violations and amended campaign finance reports. Some of those scandals led Nashvillian and prominent Republican donor Bobby Joslin to call for Ogles’ resignation just months into his term, with Joslin comparing Ogles to New York’s disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos. Even so, Ogles remains heavily favored in the red-leaning 5th — which was a reliably Democratic district represented by Rep. Jim Cooper for many years before Republican-led redistricting split Nashville three ways in 2022. When asked about the controversies, Ogles responded, “My record stands for itself, and biased reporting from a left-leaning journalist doesn’t make it true.” Ogles was specifically referring to NewsChannel 5 investigative reporter Phil Williams. When asked why he chose not
to directly answer Williams’ questions — oftentimes walking away from Williams — Ogles said, “I’ve addressed those issues.” In the Aug. 1 primary election, Ogles defeated his Republican challenger, Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston, despite her characterizations of Ogles as a “totally ineffective politician who’s getting nothing done” and “a do-nothing grandstander who just chases headlines.” Ogles’ Democratic opponent has echoed similar criticisms, arguing that 5th District voters — Democrats, Republicans and independents alike — have been “neglected.” “The approach of this campaign is that, gerrymandering be damned, we are humans and we are all fed up in one way or another,” Abolfazli said at a September town hall in Brentwood. Abolfazli’s background includes nonprofit work and international political and economic development. She also led a series of protests in support of gun reform at the Tennessee State Capitol in the wake of last year’s Covenant School shooting. That work led to her being recognized >> PAGE 2
Candidates running for federal office were required to turn in two financial reports this month. The final quarterly finance disclosures were due on Oct. 15, and pre-general-election filings were due Oct. 24. The last time candidates reported their finances was prior to the primary election and covered dates through July 12. Now candidates’ reports show financial updates through Oct. 16. In the race for one of Tennessee’s two U.S. Senate seats, incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn has outraised and outspent her Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville. Blackburn began the quarterly period with almost $8.8 million in the bank and ended with just shy of $8.1 million. Her pre-general filing shows she spent more than $3 million in the first two weeks of October, leaving her with about $5 million going into the general election on Nov. 5. That $3 million is more than Blackburn spent over the quarter ending in October, in which she reported $2.95 million in disbursements. She received a total of nearly $1.13 million in the quarter and added an additional $180,000 in the first two weeks of October. Blackburn has spent more than $3.5 million on media and strategy groups during the two reporting periods. Her campaign reports also show more than $27,800 in “other receipts” between the July and October reporting periods. That line item can potentially represent stock dividends or Bitcoin donations. The Nashville Banner reports that no other Tennessee candidate for federal office has filed any “other receipts” this election cycle. Blackburn has received more than $2.7 million in contributions via political action committees throughout the election cycle, including from leadership at large companies including manufacturer Ingram Industries, private prison corporation CoreCivic and >> PAGE 2 chain retailer Tractor Supply.
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