5th Congressional Republican primary intensifies as state party considers bona fides challenges (2024)

Melissa Brown|Nashville Tennessean

Internal party politics in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District have intensified in recent days, as three high-profile candidates face permanent removal from the ballot.

Morgan Ortagus, Robby Starbuck and Baxter Lee all face formal challenges with the Tennessee Republican Party, which triggered a technical removal from the ballot earlier this month, per party bylaws.

The Tennessee GOP state executive committee will vote by April 21 Thursday on whether to add the candidates back on the ballot.

Tennessee Republican Chairman Scott Golden said other factors could affect whether the candidates remain on the ballot, like the legality of a residency requirement passed by Republican lawmakers earlier this year that could bar Ortagus from the primary.

Trump endorsem*nt playing role

Ortagus has weathered serious skepticism in some state Republican circles since the former State Department spokesperson, who had negligible name recognition in Tennessee, nabbed an endorsem*nt from former President Donald Trump before she officially announced her campaign.

Ortagus, a one-time Fox News commentator, relocated from Washington, D.C., to Nashville in 2021. The Florida native had no previous ties to the state.

In an April 10 email obtained by the Tennessean, Tennessee Republican National Committee member Beth Campbell said her “RNC sources” told her “Trump is OK” with the party removing Ortagus from the ballot.

Ortagus’s campaign and Trump, through a spokesperson, denied the claim.

"That is a dirty lie, which should not surprise anyone, given there are RINOs in Tennessee trying to quietly pull strings and illegally remove President Trump's endorsed candidate, Morgan Ortagus, from the ballot,” saidTaylor Budowich, Trump’s communications director,in an emailed statement.

When reached by phone this week, Campbell declined to discuss the email but said she supports following the party's bylaws.

Residency fight: Tennessee sued over residency bill that would disqualify Trump-backed candidate

More: Tennessee legislature passes residency bill that would disqualify Trump-backed candidate

An aggressive redistricting effort from legislative Republicans triggered therush of GOP candidates to the 5th earlier this year, as the new congressional map divided Nashville and wrested the district away from its comfortably Democratic origins.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, later announced he would not seek reelection for the seat.

The new-look districtincludes parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties, along with rural Lewis, Maury and Marshall counties.

Trump's endorsem*nt was a blow to Starbuck's campaign, which launched an early challenge to incumbent Cooper prior to redistricting. Starbuck racked up some early endorsem*nts, including supporters in some right-wing and conservative media circles that decried Trump's Ortagus endorsem*nt. Starbuck gained the early backing of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky.

Starbuck this week said he was confident the Tennessee GOP executive committee will confirm his Republican bona fides and secure his ballot eligibility.

“The challenge process exists so Democrats can’t sneak into our elections – not to kick out other Republicans,” Starbuck said. “For democracy to work in the state of Tennessee, voters must have the opportunity to choose among all Republican candidates, not just a pre-selected few."

Money battle underway

Meanwhile, there's a fight underway for the campaign cash needed to win a competitive primary, with some candidates using fundraising to tout their Tennessee credentials.

Candidates began announcing their fundraising totals in mid-April, ahead of an April 15 federal filing deadline.

Lee on Friday reported more than $317,000 in individual contributions, which he matched with personal funds. Starbuck reported just under $360,000, which included an $8,000 personal loan.

Ortagus reported nearly $600,000 in donations since she announced her campaign, though her FEC filing is not yet publicly available.

Former Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell netted more than $350,000 since announcing her candidacy in late February.

In a campaign release, Harwell said 98% of the donations came from Tennesseans.

“I am proud to have the support of so many Tennesseans as we campaign to bring some common sense to Washington,” Harwell said. “We need someone in Congress who knows the needs of Tennessee and will fight to bring back American greatness. I intend to do just that.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Kurt Winsteadhas raised nearly$520,000 and loaned his campaign $480,000. In a campaign release, Winstead noted 99% of the donations came from inside Tennessee and "73% were from the counties within the newly drawn 5th Congressional District."

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, Geni Batchelor,Jeff Beierlein,Natisha Brooks,Timothy Bruce Lee,Stewart T. Parks andTres Wittum are also running for the seat.

More on the race for the 5th

Adam Friedman contributed to this report. Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.

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