About those 5th District fundraising totals…
Kurt Winstead was the only Republican candidate in the 5th District Congressional race to tout his fundraising haul in a press release before the official reporting deadline. The move gave him some room for, shall we say, creativity in his numbers.
“Winstead will report having nearly $580,000 in receipts in the quarter, bringing the campaign total to over $1.5 million,” the release said.
Winstead’s report shows he received $382,480 from donors and loaned his campaign $660,000 during the second quarter. But he also paid back $460,000 of an earlier loan, leaving him with a net $582,480 in the period. Add the $519,625 in contributions in the first quarter and the $20,000 remaining from his original loan, and his total is $1.1 million since joining the race.
Meanwhile, rival Republican Beth Harwell raised $421,360 in the quarter, a 19% increase over her first-quarter collections. She has yet to loan her campaign any money and her total donations to date are $775,287. Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles had yet to file his first report as of Friday evening.
UPDATE: The deadline came and went and there are still no Ogles filings available on the disclosure site.
New TNJ edition alert: Early voting underway, key races, attacks on a Harwell vote from 21 years ago
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what is in it:
— Early voting gets underway, candidates make final push for campaign case.
— Key race update: Shelby County prosecutor, a challenge from the far right for the state Senate majority leader, embattled Rep. Todd Warner struggles to raise money, and a déjà vu in Knoxville.
— Succeeding Slatery: Supreme Court opens application window for next attorney general.
— From the campaign trail: Harwell comes under attack for 2001 vote on immigrant driver’s licenses.
Also: Key lawmaker sees dim future for charter schools operated by Hillsdale College, Diana Harshbarger hosts a fundraiser for a 5th District candidate, Weston Wamp’s polling on Chattanooga stadium comes under fire from current leadership, and Jim Strickland makes a conditional statement about his political future in Memphis.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
PAC linked to Club for Growth hits Harwell, Winstead in 5th District race
The School Freedom Fund, a PAC tied to the Washington-based Club for Growth, is sending out mailers attacking Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead as not sufficiently Republican to represent the state in the 5th Congressional District.
Harwell is a former speaker of the state House of Representatives and a onetime chair of the Tennessee Republican Party. Winstead is a retired brigadier general in the Tennessee National Guard. According to the group, both are “beholden to liberal Democrats.” The mailers cite Harwell’s vote for then-Gov. Bill Haslam’s 6-cent gas tax hike in 2017 and her endorsement from the Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, during her unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018. Winstead is criticized for giving more than $2,500 in campaign donations to Democrats (unmentioned are the more than $7,000 he has given to Republicans over the last four years, including $3,000 to Republican Gov. Bill Lee).
The mailers appear to try to boost the prospects of Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles. The Club for Growth was last active in a Tennessee congressional race in 2020 in the open 1st District race, backing former state Rep. Timothy Hill (R-Blountville). Diana Harshbarger won the nomination with 19% of the vote, compared with 16.7% for Hill and 16.1% for state Sen. Rusty Crowe.
5th District ad watch: The ’ole general’ and the southern border
Two Republicans vying for the nomination in the new 5th Congressional District have new ads out touting their conservative credentials. Kurt Winstead dubs himself the ”ole general,” while Beth Harwell calls for finishing former President Donald Trump’s border wall.
Here’s what Winstead says in his ad:
Joe Biden’s America? Shocking gas prices, painful inflation, open borders, immigration run rampant. My America? Well, I grew up on a small farm, conservative Tennessee values, country first, don’t spend more than you bring in, defend the defenseless, do what the Bible says. It just might take an ole General to bring America back in line. I’m retired Brigadier General Kurt Winstead and I approved this message.
And here’s the transcript on the Harwell spot:
“I’m Beth Harwell. America’s illegal immigration crisis starts here at our southern border, but it ends in our own backyard. Soaring crime, human trafficking, opioids and fentanyl in the hands of our kids. I’ve spent my life fighting for strong families, safe neighborhoods, and Tennessee values. In Congress, I’ll fight to finish President Trump’s wall, fight for tougher penalties on criminals, and ban sanctuary cities. I’m Beth Harwell and I approved this message because we must secure this border.”
New TNJ alert: Starbuck stymied, Curcio’s transformation, and Fox’s departure
The Tennessee Journal is out with a new print edition after taking a break from the inferno-like temperatures of Nashville last week. Here is what’s in the latest version:
— Starbuck stymied by supremes, 5th District’s GOP field finally set.
— McWhorter comes back to succeed Economic Development chief Rolfe.
— Curcio kick-starts transformation from House chairman to lobbyist.
— Ubiquitous no more? Bill Fox hangs ’em up after 27 years as revenue and economic impact estimator.
Also: An overhaul of the Tennessee Municipal League board, Gerald McCormick’s ALS diagnosis, Franklin Haney pivots to solar, and Cooper laments curbside intoxicants in downtown Nashville.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
As a final look back to our summer travels, here is photo of Buoy the news retriever lounging on the Atlantic coast.
Harwell gets backing from anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List
Former state House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville has landed an endorsement from the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List. Harwell is running for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District.
Here’s the release from the Harwell campaign:
NASHVILLE, TN – Today, pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony’s List (SBA) announced its endorsement of Congressional District 5 candidate and former Speaker of the Tennessee House, Beth Harwell.
Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List’s vice president of government affairs, said, “Beth Harwell is a faithful champion of the unborn who proves that pro-life is truly pro-woman. Beth’s dynamic efforts as House speaker led to a pro-life constitutional amendment, strongly approved by voters, paving the way for swift enactment of life-saving laws. She did not rest, but immediately put her support behind health and safety requirements to hold the profit-driven abortion industry accountable, as well as legislation to protect women’s right to see an ultrasound and hear their baby’s heartbeat. Finally, under her leadership Tennessee successfully defunded abortion businesses of taxpayer dollars. In Congress she will stand up to pro-abortion Democrats for Tennessee’s pro-life values, and we couldn’t be prouder to support her.”
Per SBA’s press release, “SBA List is a network of 900,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.”
“Thank you Susan B. Anthony’s list for putting your faith in me to stand up for the lives of unborn Americans and expectant mothers in Congress. In this day and age, we should be celebrating the arrival of a new life and uplifting pregnant women with the resources they need to make sure their child is cared for. I look forward to fighting for the right to life on the floor of the U.S. House,” said Beth Harwell.
Harwell raises $350K for 5th District bid
Former state House Speaker Beth Harwell’s campaign announced she has raised $350,000 since joining the Republican primary for the open 5th Congressional District seat in February.
Here’s the release from the Harwell campaign:
NASHVILLE, TN – Today Republican Candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, Beth Harwell, announced her campaign has raised nearly $350,000 since jumping into the race on February 24.
The campaign reported that 98% of contributions came from within the state of Tennessee.
“I am proud to have the support of so many Tennesseans as we campaign to bring some common sense to Washington,” said Beth Harwell. “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.”
Beth is a teacher who made history in the state of Tennessee by becoming the first woman to serve as the Speaker of the House. Since then, she has fought to cut a record-breaking number of taxes, build up the charter school system for our children, and stand up against far-left policies that would destroy our state.
Beth is the conservative leader that will take our Tennessee values to Washington. It is clear from the support Beth has seen across the district that she is the best choice to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in Washington.
Harwell names campaign team for 5th District bid
Former state House Speaker Beth Harwell has announced Bob Brown, a former chair of the Williamson County Election Commission, will manage her campaign for the Republican nomination in the new-look 5th Congressional District. Chasen Bullock and Alex Meyer of Washington-area consulting firm TLC Political will serve as general consultants. Investment banker Denny Bottorff will serve as Harwell’s campaign treasurer.
Read about staffing updates on other campaigns here.
Here is the release from the Harwell camp:
NASHVILLE, TN – Beth Harwell announced the team behind her campaign for the U.S. House on Thursday. Harwell is running for Tennessee’s new 5th Congressional District which encompasses Nashville.
“I am proud to have such a strong team working with me on this race to help me bring Tennessee common sense to Washington and fix America so that we can get our economy back on track, balance our budget, and secure our borders,” said Beth Harwell.
Bob Brown will be the Campaign Manager. He served as the Chairman of the Williamson County Election Commission from 2011 – 2022 as well as on the Davidson County Election Commission from 1989-1994. Bob is also a healthcare executive in Nashville.
TLC Political’s Chasen Bullock and Alex Meyer will be the general consultants. TLC Political is a Virginia based, full-service agency for Republican candidates, committees, and causes. Chasen Bullock, a Senior Political Strategist, served as the National Political Director at former Speaker Paul Ryan’s SuperPAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, and has managed Dr. Rand Paul’s re-election campaign in Kentucky following the 2016 Presidential election. Alex Meyer, a Senior Political Strategist, was the Campaign Manager for Congressional and U.S. Senate races across the country. He also served as Political Data Analyst, Political-Data Liaison, Director of Sisters Committee Support, and Missouri State Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC). For more on TLC Political go to TLCPolitical.com.
Rachel Barrett and Company’s Rachel Barrett and Reid Witcher will serve as the in-state fundraisers. Rachel has been involved with fundraising, political consulting and communications in Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and the Southeast for over 20 years. She has previously served as the
Southeast Finance Director for Mitt Romney, as well as a consultant for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). For more on Rachel & Reid go to RachelBarrettandCompany.com.FP1’s Chris LaCivita and Annie Kelly Kuhle will be providing advertising services. FP1 is a full-service campaign consulting and advertising firm that has won 87 Pollies and 50 Reed Awards since its inception. Chris LaCivita is a partner at FP1, a former combat Marine veteran and seasoned political operative. He has served as Political Director for the NRSC, Senior Advisor for the RNC in 2016, and Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia. Annie Kelly Kuhle is a partner at FP1 Strategies, veteran campaign manager and strategist. She has served as a Regional Political Director for both the NRSC and NRCC. For more on FP1 go to fp1.com.
1892 LLC is a national polling firm that has conducted research for presidential, gubernatorial, senate, and congressional candidates around the country. For more on 1892, visit 1892llc.com.
TAG Strategies will be serving as the digital fundraising team. TAG is a full-service marketing, consulting and creative agency focused on building cutting-edge digital and fundraising solutions for candidates. TAG has raised over $3 billion for their candidates since their founding. For more on TAG Strategies go to TAGStrategies.co.
Denny Bottorff will serve as the campaign’s Treasurer. Denny is an American businessman, banker and philanthropist. He was chairman and chief executive officer of the First American Corporation and he served as the chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority from 2010 to 2012. He is the co-founder and general partner of Council Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also the co-founder and the former chairman of CapStar Bank.
To learn more about Beth visit BethHarwell.com.
About Beth As a life-long Republican, Beth played a key role in expanding the party in Tennessee. As Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, she directed the strategy that saw Republicans capture a majority in the State Senate for the first time in nearly 150 years. In her time as the House Republican Caucus Whip and Campaign Committee Chair, House Republicans captured the four seats necessary to take the majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In 2011, Beth became the first female Speaker of the House in the Southeast, a position she held for eight years before being appointed to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors by President Donald Trump in 2019, a position she still holds. She also currently serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Beth and her husband Sam live in Nashville where they raised their three children. She is a graduate of Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University.
Harwell joins open 5th District race
Former state House Speaker Beth Harwell has joined the race for the Republican nomination in the open 5th Congressional District.
Harwell, the first female speaker in the history of the General Assembly, left the chamber in 2018 to run for governor.
Other declared candidates so far include former U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus and music video producer Robby Starbuck. Others pondering bids include businessman Baxter Lee, attorney and retired National Guard general Kurt Winstead and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles.
Democratic incumbent Jim Cooper announced his retirement after state lawmakers split up Nashville into three heavily Republican districts.
Here’s the release from the Harwell campaign:
NASHVILLE, TN– Beth Harwell announced today that she is running for the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional district. A life-long Republican and long-time Nashville resident, Beth is a mother, educator, and former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
“As Speaker, we rebuilt the Tennessee economy by eliminating taxes, promoting school choice, and balancing our budget. Before that, I taught American history – real American history,” said Beth Harwell. “Now I’m running for Congress to fix America by bringing Tennessee common sense to Washington – they could learn a thing or two from the way we do things. It’s time to rein in our federal government, stop the fiscal insanity, and return power to the states.”
Today’s America has been put through the ringer as the Biden Administration has driven inflation through the roof and spent our tax dollars on pet projects. They have taken control over our children’s classrooms and destroyed our businesses with mandates and overbearing regulations. Tennesseans don’t need more taxes, red-tape, and government overreach into their families. It’s time the 5th district had a representative who will fix our economy, secure our border, and ensure parents can be involved with their children’s education.
Beth is the only proven conservative leader and reformer in this race. As Speaker of the House, Tennessee permanently banned a state income tax and eliminated the gift, death, and Hall income taxes, resulting in the largest amount of tax cuts in state history to the tune of over $5 billion dollars. She led the fight for school choice in Tennessee, empowering parents with a greater voice in their children’s education. Beth was an early proponent and ardent supporter of public charter schools and homeschooling options for families across the state.
The 5th congressional district includes portions of Davidson, Wilson, and Williamson Counties and all of Lewis, Marshall, and Maury Counties.
To learn more about Beth visit BethHarwell.com.
About Beth. As a life-long Republican, Beth played a key role in expanding the party in Tennessee. As Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, she directed the strategy that saw Republicans capture a majority in the State Senate for the first time in nearly 150 years. In her time as the House Republican Caucus Whip and Campaign Committee Chair, House Republicans captured the four seats necessary to take the majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In 2011, Beth became the first female Speaker of the House in the Southeast, a position she held for eight years before being appointed to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors by President Donald Trump in 2019, a position she still holds. She also currently serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Beth and her husband Sam live in Nashville where they raised their three children. She is a graduate of Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University.
Harwell, Noland nominated to TVA board
House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) awaits Gov. Bill Haslam’s final State of the State address in Nashville on Jan. 29, 2018. (Erik Schelzig, Associated Press)
President Donald Trump has nominated former state House Speaker Beth Harwell and East Tennessee State University President Brian Noland to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Harwell decided to give up her House seat to make a bid for governor in 2018. She fell short in the the Republican primary won by eventual Gov. Bill Lee.
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Harwell had worked with TVA on several issues during her time as speaker.
“She understands that TVA’s mission is to continue to provide cheap, clean and reliable electricity throughout the Tennessee Valley, and I know her leadership will be a valuable asset to the TVA board,” he said in a statement.
Alexander called Noland “a respected leader in East Tennessee [who] has helped transform Tennessee’s fourth largest university.”
“His administrative experience makes him the right person to help keep TVA on a good path – to continue to provide clean, cheap, reliable electricity at the lowest possible rates for homes and businesses through the seven-state Tennessee Valley region,” Alexander said.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports TVA directors are paid an annual stipend of $52,702. The chair receives $58,650 a year.
