A former state representative has announced his bid for the 7th Congressional District following U.S. Rep. Mark Green's surprise decision to not seek reelection. Brandon Ogles, a Republican who represented Williamson County in the state House from 2018 to 2022, is the first Republican to confirm a run for the seat, though it's unlikely he'll be the last.
Ogles — a cousin of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who represents Tennessee's 5th Congressional District — posted to social media on Saturday that he had picked up candidacy papers and is officially running. In that same post, Brandon Ogles calls "the government in Nashville and the government in Washington D.C." the greatest threats to Tennesseans' prosperity.
District 7 was gerrymandered in 2022 to include part of Nashville. The Scene's sister publication The News described Ogles' campaigns and legislative career as focused on so-called "law and order" issues, sponsoring bills that increased penalties for aggravated rape, increased pay for police officers and firefighters and increased penalties for the possession of certain types of narcotics.
Ogles was also on good terms with disgraced, scandal-plagued former House Speaker Glen Casada, a fellow Williamson County Republican, and called him a "strong conservative voice [that] will be greatly missed."
Political observers await the potential announcements of other state Republicans, including Clarksville's Bill Powers, who told reporters he is considering a bid.
Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is currently running for the Democratic nomination for the district.
