Democratic candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District Maryam Abolfazli is attempting to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep.Andy Ogles. (Abolfazli photo: MaryamForCongress.com; Ogles photo: John Partipilo)
Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, facing an FBI investigation, is running a quiet campaign against Democratic opponent Maryam Abolfazli, yet she started attacking him this week in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.
Ogles, a Culleoka resident and former Maury County mayor, hasn’t purchased any TV ads as he seeks a second two-year term in Congress after winning the district seat in 2022 by defeating moderate Republicans. After decades as a Democratic stronghold, the 5th District was redrawn two years ago to combine a portion of Davidson County with red rural areas and give Republicans an advantage at the polls.
Abolfazli, a Nashville resident who has become a frequent participant in state legislative affairs, entered the race with a serious deficit caused by the district’s heavily Republican political makeup but recently bought two short TV ads to bolster her campaign.
Abolfazli ran a spot Monday taking Ogles to task for failing to bring federal funds to Tennessee. In it, she says the 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Wilson County, across part of Davidson and Williamson, to Maury, Marshall and Lewis, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, requiring new infrastructure. But, she says, Ogles failed to help the district contend with change.
“Typically, a freshman congressperson brings about $12 million down to their district for that use. Guess how much your congressperson, Andy Ogles, has brought down to District 5. Zero,” she says. “That’s unacceptable.”
Ogles has stayed out of the public eye in recent weeks, especially after the revelation that federal agents confiscated his phone as part of a fraud investigation. But in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, he sent out a press release Monday saying he introduced a bill that would add $10 billion for disaster relief to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The money would be made available by rescinding funding for IRS agents approved in 2022.
Columbia Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles new financial disclosure to show missing loan
In September, Ogles acknowledged a six-figure loan to his campaign from FirstBank after failing to disclose it on previous forms, which led to a complaint by the Campaign Legal Center. The nonpartisan watchdog group alleged that Ogles had nearly $1 million in finance discrepancies between his House disclosure form and campaign finance reports.
Ogles maneuvered to unseat Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy two years ago when he entered Congress and has an endorsement from former President Donald Trump on his re-election website. Trump support alone is expected to boost him in a state likely to give the Republican presidential candidate at least 60% of the vote on Nov. 5. He also has backing from U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Ogles reported bringing in $964,369 over the last two years and spending nearly $992,000. His latest filing lists no loans and $25,718 in cash on hand.
Abolfazli reported raising $403,300 over the last six months and spending about $293,500. She had nearly $110,000 on hand as of Oct. 16.
In her newest ad, Abolfazli declines to mention Ogles and describes herself as a single, working mother who knows what it takes to support a family.
Abolfazli acknowledges housing, health care and groceries are expensive and says, “We need someone in Congress that deals with this every day, not someone who’s paid by big donors.” In another 15-second ad, Abolfazli shows support for reproductive rights in a state where abortions are outlawed, except in extreme circumstances.
“My son has been the light of my life for the last six years, but it was my decision to have a child. Every woman deserves the right to make that decision for herself,” she says.
Ogles’ website says he believes life begins at conception and adds that “we are duty-bound to protect it at every stage until natural death.”
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