Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles draws Republican and Democratic challengers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles will have Republican opposition in the August primary as he seeks to retain a congressional seat passing through Nashville.

Officeholders including the first-term congressman from Columbia learned who their challengers will be as candidates met last week’s filing deadline for state and federal positions.

The deadline passed while Republicans remained stalled over legislation that would prevent Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson from running simultaneously for Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s seat and for reelection to the Legislature. She qualified for both, and is unopposed in her state House race.

Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus who secured former President Donald Trump’s endorsement for his reelection, will face Tom Guarente, a cybersecurity expert from Brentwood, and Courtney Johnston, a Nashville Metro Council member, in the Republican primary.

Multiple Democrats also qualified to run for the seat, including Maryam Abolfazli, who founded the civic engagement nonprofit named Rise and Shine Tennessee, and Arnie Malham, who also is from Nashville.

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