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Micheál (Me-Haul) O'Leary
Office history
Micheál O'Leary is an independent candidate running for U.S. House in Tennessee’s newly redrawn District 5 in the 2026 election 1. The district stretches from Williamson County north to the Kentucky state line and west along the Arkansas border to downtown Memphis, encompassing parts of Nashville and Memphis 11. O'Leary is listed as residing in Nashville 13. He qualified for the November general election ballot after the special qualifying period extended by the new congressional map 6. His campaign name on the ballot includes the nickname "Me-Haul" 7, 13.
O'Leary previously ran for the California State Board of Equalization, District 3, in 2018. He lost in the nonpartisan primary on June 5, 2018, receiving 3.4% of the vote (43,084 votes) 2. During that campaign, he described himself as a small business owner with nearly 20 years of experience and stated his priorities would include ending fiscal mismanagement, increasing government transparency, and advocating for business owners 2. He studied agricultural sciences at University College Dublin and was affiliated with the Eagle Rock Athletic Club 2. In that race, he also created a campaign podcast to interview other candidates and business owners 2.
O'Leary is one of two independent candidates in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race, alongside James A. Johnson of Memphis 13. The Republican incumbent, Andy Ogles, faces a primary challenge from Charlie Hatcher, while the Democratic primary includes several candidates such as Yolanda Cooper-Sutton and DeVante R. Hill 13, 15.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
- State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “O'Leary”, and submit.
- County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“O'Leary”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “O'Leary”and, if needed, select the applicable position.