In a surprising political development, Democratic House candidate Chaz Molder has made headlines by raising $500,000 in a district that former President Donald Trump carried by a 13-point margin. Molder, known for being the youngest mayor elected in Columbia, TN, is gaining significant traction, largely due to the controversies surrounding his opponent, Republican Rep. Andy Ogles.
Rep. Andy Ogles, who has served Tennessee’s 5th District since 2023, first drew national attention in March 2023. A school shooting in his district that month resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including three children. This incident came shortly after Ogles had distributed a Christmas card showing his family with assault weapons, a move that sparked widespread criticism. Although he removed the image from his social media, Ogles did not issue an apology.
Since then, Ogles has been embroiled in numerous controversies. A NewsChannel 5 report in November 2023 revealed that Ogles lent $320,000 to his 2022 campaign, despite having no reported significant personal assets. This raised suspicions of concealed assets or undisclosed donations, both potential federal offenses.
In a twist, Ogles later claimed in May 2024 that the $320,000 figure was incorrect, asserting the actual amount was $20,000 due to a paperwork error. However, this did not satisfy the FBI, which continues to investigate the matter, having seized Ogles’ cell phone as part of their inquiry.
Additionally, Ogles faces accusations of financial misconduct. After the tragic stillbirth of his child in 2014, Ogles raised $25,000 through GoFundMe to create a cemetery for stillborn children. Though the funds were confirmed to have been received, the cemetery was never built. Ogles attributed this to state regulations, which he claimed prevented the project, but no such regulations exist, and he provided no further evidence regarding the use of the funds.
Ogles frequently discusses the emotional and financial toll of losing his child on the campaign trail, yet he has supported the One Beautiful Bill Act, which aims to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid, potentially causing 11.8 million Americans to lose their health coverage.
His tenure is marked by further controversies, such as suggesting the denaturalization of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and proposing legislation to allow Donald Trump a third presidential term.
Despite his previous electoral success, Democrats see an opportunity to unseat Ogles, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) pledging funds to challenge him in the upcoming election, as reported in June.
The political landscape in Tennessee’s 5th District remains dynamic, with Rep. Ogles’ actions likely to be scrutinized closely in the lead-up to the election.
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