By Tom Pappert
Tennessee Never Trump political operators Blake Harris and Kim Kaegi are pushing Metro Nashville Councilwoman Courtney Johnston to challenge Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) for his seat in the U.S. House, multiple sources familiar with the Metro Council and Tennessee Republican politics confirmed to The Tennessee Star.
Johnston (pictured above, center) recently confirmed reports she is considering a challenge to Ogles, stating to the media, “The people of Middle Tennessee deserve better than Andy Ogles.” The councilwoman confirmed, “I am taking a very close look at the district and am talking to voters. If I run, I intend to win.”
Multiple sources now confirm to The Star that Kaegi (pictured above, right), a Tennessee political fundraiser who serves both Democrats and Republicans, is among those pushing Johnston to declare her candidacy. Should Johnston decide to run, the sources confirm Kaegi will raise money for the campaign.
A seasoned fundraiser in Tennessee, Kaegi previously made headlines due to her connection to former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who is currently running in the Democratic primary to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional district in the U.S. House despite previously resigning after scandalous details of her taxpayer-funded, two-year affair with her bodyguard were exposed in 2018.
Barry ultimately spent nearly $175,000 on her taxpayer-funded extramarital affair, and she faced criminal consequences for her actions, but her criminal record was officially expunged by March 2021.
Harris (pictured above, left) is similarly is a long-time political consultant, but is known for his opposition to former President Donald Trump and support for Republicans who likewise oppose the former president.
The consultant has worked in Lee’s administration since leading the governor’s transition, and in late 2018, The Star reported that Harris was already undermining Lee’s pro-Trump political messaging by staffing the governor’s administration with anti-Trump personnel.
In addition to Lee, the consultant has worked for former Senator Ben Sasse and former Representative Martha Roby, who are both outspoken critics of the former president.
Johnston did not return multiple requests for comment made by The Star on Monday.
Johnston has developed a reputation as a moderate Republican while serving on the Metro Council, and in 2023 confirmed she regularly finds herself agreeing with her Democratic colleagues.
“I’m not out here fighting abortion or LGBT anything, like some conservative-leaning groups want me to and have pressured me to do,” Johnston told Nashville Scene last year. “That’s not what I’m here to do. But we can all agree on fiscal responsibility.”
Prior to those remarks, the councilwoman made a number votes that are likely to be controversial with pro-Trump voters in Middle Tennessee.
In April 2023, Johnston voted to reinstate Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) to the Tennessee House of Representatives after Republicans in the legislature successfully expelled Jones.
The previous year, Johnston worked with Democrats to approve nearly $10 million in federal money distributed by President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 recovery to the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, which openly advocates controversial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices similar to those called discriminatory by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
She also worked to swiftly pass a resolution expressing support for the people of Ukraine in March 2022.
Tom Guarente, who has reportedly filed paperwork to challenge Ogles in the Republican primary, acknowledged but did not comment on the claims about Kaegi and Harris working with Johnston when reached by The Star.
“I don’t generally comment on rumors,” said Guarente. “I know that she has been looking at the race and am sure she feels as I do that the district deserves more.”
Guarente said voters should expect to hear more in the “coming weeks” and told The Star he has “been humbled by the enthusiastic support that we have received over the past four weeks.”
The potential challengers to the incumbent are expected to launch their campaigns despite Ogles already securing Trump’s endorsement.
“Congressman Andy Ogles is a fantastic Representative for the incredible people of Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. I was pleased to recently receive his Endorsement for President,” wrote Trump in his May 2023 endorsement.
The former president declared, “I was proud to help Andy flip a Democrat seat in 2022, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement for re-election. He will not let you down!”
Ogles more recently secured the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus, which previously recognized him among its Top Defenders of Liberty in 2023.
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to pappert.tom@proton.me.
Photo “Blake Harris” by Office of the Governor (2021); “Kim Kaegi” by LCR Capital Partners (2019); and “Courtney Johnston” is by Courtney Johnston