Andy Ogles

Andy Ogles
Official portrait, 2022
Andy Ogles
Born	William Andrew Ogles IV 18 6, 1971
Birthplace	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 5th congressional district
Children	3
Website	[[ogles.house.gov ogles.house.gov] Official site]

William Andrew Ogles IV (born June 18, 1971), known as Andy Ogles, is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 5th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Ogles previously served as the mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, from 2018 to 2022. Before entering electoral politics, Ogles was involved in conservative advocacy organizations in Tennessee. In Congress, he has aligned himself with the far-right wing of the Republican Party, was among the original members who voted against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House in January 2023, and has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. His tenure has drawn public attention for a number of controversies, including scrutiny over claims he made about his educational and professional background, proposals for a constitutional amendment to allow Trump to serve a third presidential term, and calls for the impeachment of judges who have ruled against the Trump administration. Ogles succeeded longtime Democratic congressman Jim Cooper, who retired after Tennessee's congressional map was redrawn following the 2020 census.

Early Life

Andy Ogles was born William Andrew Ogles IV on June 18, 1971, in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up in the Nashville area and has roots in Middle Tennessee. His cousin, Brandon Ogles, is also involved in Tennessee politics. Details about his parents and upbringing beyond these basic facts have not been extensively documented in available sources.

Ogles has spoken publicly about the death of one of his children, a topic that has featured in his political messaging. He and his wife, Monica, have three children. The family resides in the Nashville metropolitan area, which falls within Tennessee's 5th congressional district.

Education

Ogles has faced significant public scrutiny regarding claims he made about his educational credentials. During his campaigns, Ogles described himself as an "economist" and referenced academic credentials that were later called into question by journalists and political opponents. Investigations by news outlets found that Ogles had not completed certain degrees he had implied or claimed to hold, and he had not worked in the professional capacities he suggested on the campaign trail. The controversy over his educational background became a recurring issue during his 2022 congressional campaign and continued after he took office, with critics accusing him of misrepresenting his qualifications to voters.

Career

Early Political Activity

Before holding elected office, Ogles was involved in conservative political organizations and advocacy work in Tennessee. He worked with groups focused on fiscal conservatism and limited government. His early forays into electoral politics included campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2002, Ogles ran in the Republican primary for Tennessee's 8th congressional district, though he did not win the nomination. He made another attempt at political office in 2006, again running in a Republican primary for a congressional seat, but was unsuccessful in that race as well.

These early campaigns, while unsuccessful, allowed Ogles to build name recognition and political connections within the Tennessee Republican Party. In the years between his congressional bids, Ogles continued to work in conservative policy circles and positioned himself for future runs at public office.

Mayor of Maury County

In 2018, Ogles ran for mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, challenging incumbent mayor Charlie Norman in the Republican primary. Ogles campaigned on a platform of fiscal conservatism, lower taxes, and limited government. He defeated Norman in the primary election, a result that was seen as a significant upset in local politics. He took office as mayor on September 1, 2018, succeeding Norman.

As mayor, Ogles focused on issues of budget management and development in the rapidly growing county, which includes the city of Columbia, Tennessee. Maury County experienced significant population growth during Ogles's tenure, and he oversaw municipal decisions related to infrastructure and land use. He served as mayor until August 30, 2022, when he stepped down to pursue his successful bid for Congress. He was succeeded as mayor by Sheila Butt.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following the redistricting that took place after the 2020 United States census, Tennessee's 5th congressional district was substantially redrawn by the Republican-controlled state legislature. The district, which had been represented by Democratic congressman Jim Cooper since 2003, was reconfigured to include more conservative-leaning areas, making it far more favorable to Republican candidates. Cooper announced his retirement rather than seek reelection in the redrawn district.

Ogles entered the Republican primary for the open seat, joining a crowded field of candidates. He campaigned on a platform emphasizing conservative social values, support for the Second Amendment, opposition to abortion, and strong alignment with former President Donald Trump. His campaign attracted attention for a Christmas card featuring his family posing with rifles.

Ogles won the Republican primary on August 4, 2022, securing the nomination in what was widely expected to be a safe Republican seat following redistricting. During the campaign, questions arose about Ogles's claims regarding his professional background. He had described himself as an economist and referenced law enforcement experience, but reporting by The Tennessean and other outlets found that these characterizations were inaccurate or significantly embellished. Despite the controversy, Ogles won the general election in November 2022 in the heavily Republican district.

U.S. House of Representatives

Ogles was sworn in as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 5th congressional district on January 3, 2023, succeeding Jim Cooper. From the outset of his congressional tenure, he positioned himself on the far-right flank of the Republican conference.

Speaker of the House Vote

In January 2023, Ogles was one of the original 19 Republican members of Congress who voted against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House. The protracted speaker election, which required 15 rounds of voting, was one of the most contentious in modern congressional history. Ogles's opposition to McCarthy reflected his alignment with the most conservative faction of the Republican caucus, which demanded concessions on House rules and committee assignments before agreeing to support McCarthy's bid.

Legislative Positions and Proposals

Ogles has staked out strongly conservative positions on a range of issues during his time in Congress. He has been an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, and has publicly called for Christian nationalism in the United States. He has been a prominent supporter of gun rights, which was underscored by his family's rifle-themed Christmas card that drew national media coverage.

Among his most notable legislative proposals, Ogles introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow Donald Trump to serve a third term as president, a move that would require overturning the Twenty-second Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. He also filed articles of impeachment against federal judges who issued rulings against the Trump administration, actions that drew both support from Trump allies and criticism from legal scholars and political opponents.

During the period following the 2020 United States presidential election, Ogles echoed false claims that the election had been stolen from Donald Trump. These assertions were part of the broader attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, and Ogles continued to reference these claims during his 2022 campaign and in Congress.

Columbia Dam Feasibility Study

In February 2026, Ogles submitted a legislative request to the Army Corps of Engineers for a feasibility study regarding the reconstruction of the Columbia Dam on the Duck River in Maury County. The request came in the wake of a 2024 drought that had exposed vulnerabilities in the water supply for approximately 250,000 people who rely on the Duck River for drinking water. The proposal was supported by local officials and community groups concerned about water security in the region.

Super Bowl Halftime Show Investigation Request

In February 2026, Ogles called for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to launch a formal congressional inquiry into the NFL and NBC regarding the Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny. Ogles accused the network of broadcasting a "sexually explicit" performance, describing it in a letter as "gay pornography." The request drew national media attention and commentary. The Hill published an opinion piece discussing Ogles's characterization of the performance.

Personal Life

Ogles and his wife, Monica, have three children and reside in the Nashville metropolitan area within Tennessee's 5th congressional district. The family gained national attention for their Christmas card photographs in which family members posed holding rifles, an image that Ogles used as part of his political branding to signal support for gun rights.

Ogles has spoken publicly about the loss of a child, a personal tragedy that has informed some of his public advocacy. He has identified himself as a committed Christian, and his public statements and legislative priorities reflect socially conservative positions rooted in his religious beliefs, including his calls for Christian nationalism in the United States.

His cousin, Brandon Ogles, is also involved in Tennessee Republican politics, and the family has been part of the state's conservative political network.

Controversies

Background Misrepresentations

One of the most persistent controversies of Ogles's political career has been the scrutiny of claims he made about his educational and professional background. During his campaigns, Ogles described himself as an "economist," a characterization that news investigations found to be unsupported by his actual credentials. He also referenced experience in law enforcement, but reporting indicated that he had not served as a law enforcement officer in any official capacity. These revelations drew criticism from political opponents and media commentators, who accused Ogles of fabricating or significantly embellishing his résumé to appear more qualified to voters. Ogles and his campaign disputed some of the characterizations of the reporting, but the controversy persisted and became a recurring theme in coverage of his political career.

Election Denial

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Ogles amplified false claims that the election was stolen from Donald Trump. These statements placed him among the broader group of Republican politicians who promoted unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud, claims that were rejected by courts, election officials, and the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency.

2026 Reelection and Political Outlook

As of early 2026, Ogles faces a competitive reelection campaign. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) named Tennessee's 5th congressional district as part of its "Red to Blue" program, identifying the seat as one that Democrats believe they can flip. Chaz Molder, a former state legislator from Maury County, was named a priority candidate by the DCCC for the 2026 race. The increased Democratic attention to the district reflects both national political dynamics and local factors, including controversies surrounding Ogles's tenure in office.