Ogles declared victory and Campbell conceded the race shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News
Republican Andy Ogles, who gained popularity among Tennessee Republicans as an outspoken former county mayor, has defeated Democratic nominee Heidi Campbell, a Nashville state senator, in the 5th Congressional District, media reported.
Ogles declared victory and Campbell conceded the race shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nashville Scene reported.
“We have a lot of work to do in Tennessee, that’s obvious,” Campbell said.
In a conversation with the Scene, Campbell expressed concern at the state of democracy, though she says “we are not at war.”
“I think when you have a party that’s willing to participate in a protracted insurrection, which is what this is, I think you’re concerned about the state of democracy,” said Campbell. “We already have one of our freedoms taken away and we have a lot of freedoms on deck. They’re all going to go now.”
Ogles’ win breaks a generations-long streak of Democratic control of the district, which until GOP-led redistricting this year included all of Davidson County. The new maps split Nashville into three congressional districts, with each favoring Republicans (though the 5th District seemed to be friendlier to Democrats than the 6th or 7th districts), Nashville Scene reported.
Ogles is a former anti-tax lobbyist with Americans for Prosperity who opposes gay marriage and abortion rights. He said the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” and fought against COVID-19 prevention policies as Maury County mayor, it was reported.
Campbell had hoped that highlighting Ogles’ stances on abortion and gay marriage — as well as his support of dissolving the US Department of Education — would help gain enough support among wary voters in a new district that now snakes across six counties. The Democrat even outraised and outspent Ogles in the last quarter, Associated Press reported.
