Andy Ogles

Current office and 2026 campaign

Andy Ogles is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, having assumed office on January 3, 2023 ¹. His current term concludes on January 3, 2027 ¹. The district has been represented by Ogles since January 2023 and is rated as leaning Republican ⁷.

Ogles declared his candidacy for re-election to the U.S. House in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. He has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump for the race ¹⁰. Ogles self-describes as an entrepreneur and former mayor with a focus on limited government and lower taxes ⁵.

In May 2026, Ogles announced that his phone had been returned by federal authorities, signaling the end of an investigation into campaign finance violations related to his 2022 election ⁹. The investigation stemmed from a report where he stated he loaned his campaign $320,000, which was later amended ⁹.

Background and education

William Andrew Ogles IV was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 18, 1971 ⁶. He is a native of Middle Tennessee with family roots dating back to the state's founding ⁵⁸. Ogles attended Franklin High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, Monica, whom he married in 1994 ⁶¹¹.

Ogles earned a bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) ¹. While one source states he earned a degree in liberal studies ¹, another indicates he studied economics and political science at MTSU before pursuing graduate work in marketing at Vanderbilt's Owen School of Management ⁸.

Career

Andy Ogles is a Middle Tennessee native who self-describes as having deep roots dating back to the state's founding ⁵. He attended Franklin High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Middle Tennessee State University ¹⁶. While some sources note he studied Economics and Political Science at MTSU and pursued graduate work in Marketing at Vanderbilt's Owen School of Management, his official biography highlights his undergraduate education ⁵⁸.

Before entering public service, Ogles built a career as an entrepreneur. He owned and operated restaurants and worked in real estate investment ⁵¹¹. He also served in the non-profit sector, specifically as the Chief Operating Officer of Abolition International, where he oversaw operations and investments ⁵. During this time, he became nationally recognized as an expert on tax policy and healthcare, with his views featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Investor's Business Daily ⁸.

Ogles served as the Mayor of Maury County from September 1, 2018, to August 30, 2022 ⁶. In this role, he also functioned as the CEO of the county ⁸. He succeeded Charlie Norman and was succeeded by Sheila Butt in the position ⁶.

Office history

Andy Ogles served as the Mayor of Maury County from September 1, 2018, to August 30, 2022, succeeding Charlie Norman and preceding Sheila Butt ⁶. Prior to his election to Congress, he was an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry and real estate investment, and later served as the Chief Operating Officer of Abolition International ⁵⁸.

Ogles was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in 2022, assuming office on January 3, 2023 ¹⁶. He won the Republican nomination with 35.4% of the vote in a crowded ten-candidate primary before defeating the Democratic nominee in the general election ².

He was re-elected to a second term in 2024 after defeating challenger Courtney Johnston in the August 1, 2024, Republican primary with 56.5% of the vote ³⁴. Ogles is currently serving his second term, which ends on January 3, 2027 ¹. He has declared candidacy for re-election to the U.S. House in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Andy Ogles has served as the U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 5th District since January 3, 2023 ¹. During his tenure, he has focused on legislative efforts related to border security, economic policy, and gun rights ¹⁰. Ogles states that he introduced, cosponsored, and voted for legislation aimed at securing the southern border, stopping inflation, upholding the rule of law, and defending the Second Amendment ¹⁰.

Prior to his election to Congress, Ogles served as the Mayor and CEO of Maury County from September 1, 2018, until August 30, 2022 ⁶. He also previously worked as the Chief Operating Officer of Abolition International ⁵. His professional background includes entrepreneurship in the restaurant industry and real estate investment, as well as graduate work in marketing at Vanderbilt's Owen School of Management ⁸.

In May 2026, Ogles announced that the federal government had returned his phone, signaling the end of an investigation into campaign finance violations related to his 2022 election ⁹. The investigation stemmed from a discrepancy in a 2022 report where he stated he loaned his campaign $320,000, which he later amended ⁹. Ogles secured the Republican nomination for the district in the August 1, 2024, primary, defeating Courtney Johnston with 56.5% of the vote ³. He is currently seeking re-election in the 2026 Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Documented disputes and controversies

During his first term, Ogles faced public criticism regarding his conduct in Congress and his response to the Covenant School shooting ². This scrutiny contributed to a competitive Republican primary in 2024, where he defeated challenger Courtney Johnston with 56.5% of the vote ³. A third candidate, Tom Guarente, initially filed to run but withdrew from the race, with reports indicating that Guarente believed a split ticket would facilitate an unseating of Ogles ².

In the aftermath of his 2024 primary victory, Ogles' phone was seized by federal authorities as part of an investigation into campaign finance violations related to his 2022 election ⁹. The investigation originated from a discrepancy in his 2022 campaign finance reports, where he initially stated he loaned his campaign $320,000 but later amended the filing nearly two years later ⁹. In May 2026, Ogles announced the phone had been returned to him, signaling the end of the investigation ⁹; the full Times Free Press account of how the investigation was resolved is behind a paywall and is not independently confirmed here.

Business interests and wealth source

Ogles describes himself as having had a successful career as an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry and in real estate investment ⁵¹¹. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Abolition International, a non-profit organization focused on anti-trafficking efforts, where he oversaw operations and investments ⁵. Ogles also served as the mayor and CEO of Maury County from 2018 to 2022 ⁶⁸.

Financial disclosure records indicate that Ogles has significant personal wealth. During his first election cycle in 2022, he reported loaning his campaign $320,000 ⁹. He later amended this report to state that he had repaid the loan with interest, bringing the total amount repaid to approximately $400,000 ⁹. Ogles resides on a small farm south of Columbia with his wife and three children ⁵¹¹.

Family

Andy Ogles married his high school sweetheart, Monica, after graduating from Franklin High School ⁵. The couple has three children: Adley, Drew, and Isaac ⁵. As of 2026, the family resides on a small farm south of Columbia, Tennessee ⁵. Ogles is also related to Brandon Ogles, who serves as a state representative ⁶.

Sources