President Donald Trump has offered an endorsement in race to represent Tennessee’s 5th District in Congress.
Former spokesperson for the United States Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, is reportedly weighing a run. Sources tell The Tennessee Star Ortagus moved to Tennessee after her service in the Trump administration. She joined Nashville-based Rubicon Founders in February 2021.
President Trump said in a emailed statement:
I am told the very strong and impressive Morgan Ortagus is exploring a run for Congress in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. I couldn’t be happier because she’s an absolute warrior for America First and MAGA! Morgan was fantastic in her role working with Secretary Mike Pompeo at the U.S. State Department and understands the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran and others, and will be tough, not just roll over like the Democrats and RINOs. She serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves and will fight for our Military. She won’t bow to the Woke Mob or the Leftist LameStream Media. Morgan Ortagus will have my Complete and Total Endorsement if she decides to run!
The Daily Wire reports that “A top source close to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)” is saying that President Trump’s praise means that Ortagus is now the “runaway” favorite. A tweet revealed that Morgan Ortagus was at Mar-a-Lago this past weekend.
Morgan Deann Ortagus, an officer in the United States Navy Reserve, served as spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 2019 to 2021. She previously held several government positions including Deputy Treasury Attaché and Intelligence Analyst at the United States Department of the Treasury and Public Affairs Officer at USAID. Ortagus also worked as national a security contributor at Fox News before becoming a State Department spokesperson.
Ortagus has yet to announce her plans publicly and an FEC search does not yet yield any filings as of Tuesday night.
Earlier Tuesday, incumbent Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) announced he decided against running for re-election in large part due to the redistricting maps making the new 5th District unwinnable for him, in his opinion. It is widely believed that the new maps make the 5th Congressional District much more favorable territory for a Republican nominee.
Odessa Kelly is a publicly announced candidate in the Democrat primary for the 5th, while Robby Starbuck, Natisha Brooks, and Quincy McKnight have publicly announced on the Republican side. Other candidates may still come forward.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
