US House of Representatives

US House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives, alongside the United States Senate, forms the legislative branch of our federal government. Representatives serve two-year terms. The 117th US House of Representatives holds 224 Democrats, including 4 Delegates, 212 Republicans, including 1 Delegate and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, and five vacant seats.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Tennessee elects nine representatives to the House. On Jan 20th, 2022 the Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 0781 that redraws Tennessee’s historically Democratic leaning 5th congressional district of Davidson County, into three pieces absorbing parts of it into the largely white, historically Republican 6th and 7th districts.

The House of Representatives introduces bills and resolutions, offers amendments, and serves on committees. The House has the sole power to originate impeachment proceedings against public officials, who are then tried before the Senate. A representative’s job requires them to address the concerns, problems, and goals of their constituents and utilize this information to research topics, identify issues, and propose laws that protect citizens, working in coordination with their political party’s policy-making agenda. They must also be informed on international matters as well as any pending legislative matters.

DISTRICT 5

GENI BATCHELOR

Geni Batchelor, although born in Sacramento, has lived in Lebanon, Tenn., since 2005. She has been retired since 2014, but she has worked as the owner-operator of a bakery, as a realtor, and from 1999 to 2012 as the COO of Miller Tanner Associates, a corporate event planning company. She has also worked in education as a principal’s secretary and assistant registrar. She graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School in 1966. She also holds a certificate for medical assisting from Northwest College for Medical Assistants.

This is Batchelor’s first run for public office. She was President of the Wilson County Community Help Center from 2010-2012 and has volunteered with Compassionate Hands Ministries in Wilson County. She describes herself as a “real, conservative, common sense choice” and she is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. She is dismayed by the divisive nature of politics and pledges to use common sense to work together and resolve issues peacefully.

BETH HARWELL

Beth Harwell moved to Tennessee at age 16 to attend Lipscomb University. She earned her master’s degree from Peabody College and her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, both in social science education. Harwell has worked as a research analyst for the State Board of Regents; a trainer for University of Tennessee’s Center for Labor Management; and assistant professor of political science at Belmont University.

Harwell served as chair of the state Republican Party from 2001 to 2004. Harwell was the longest-serving member of the House, until 2018 when she left for a gubernatorial run. She was also the first female speaker for the Tennessee House of Representatives. Harwell ensured that Tennessee’s budget was balanced every year she served as speaker. In 2019, she was appointed by President Trump to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Harwell’s stances support charter schools, cutting taxes, legalization of medical marijuana, pro-life legislation, tougher sexual abuse laws, and protecting Second Amendment rights. Her current focus is on securing the southern border, fighting inflation, and curtailing government spending.

JEFF BEIERLEIN

Jeff Beierlein grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. After attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was commissioned into Army Aviation. He served 11 years on active duty in the United States, Central America, and Korea. He came to middle Tennessee in 2000, stationed at Fort Campbell. He was a Unit Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Following his second tour in Iraq, he left active duty and received a business degree from Vanderbilt. He currently lives in West Nashville and for the last 15 years he has been the regional Vice President of a dialysis company.

This is Beierlein’s first run for public office. He is a proud conservative and he is running to restore accountability and confidence in politics. He is pro-life, pro-second-amendment, and focused on border security.

TIMOTHY BRUCE LEE

Timothy Bruce Lee grew up in Nashville and studied Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University, and later obtained this degree from Tennessee State University. Lee also obtained his EMT certification and Paramedic license from Columbia State University.

For two decades, Lee worked as a paramedic for 911 services in Sumner and Dickson counties. He currently works for Nashville Fire Department as a HazMat Paramedic, volunteers as a mentor for new hires, and is part of a peer support group.

Lee will work to lower taxes, fight for good jobs, and preserve the Second Amendment. He wants a leader that is not afraid to be bold, decisive and strong.

NATISHA BROOKS

Natisha Brooks is a self-described “Constitutional Conservative” from Gimer, Texas. She received her formal education from Prairie A+M University and became a Home School and Tutoring Consultant in 2001. She currently resides in Nashville, and is the Owner and Director of The Brooks Academy, a Christian homeschool institution with a religious curriculum. She has stated that she would vote to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.

The focus issues in Brooks’ campaign include mining, veteran affairs, and mental health. Brooks advocates for college tuition being determined by the current annual cost-of-living, the funding of mental health services for Americans in certain circumstances, and the improvement of living and health benefits for Military Veterans. This contributes to the areas of public policy in which Brooks is most passionate about: “As a Small Business Owner, I am in favor of increased business insurance benefits and options for sole-proprietors, partnerships, and LLCs. I also believe in providing tax benefits and incentives to private sector healthcare practitioners who will serve our veterans.”

ANDREW OGLES

Native Tennessean, Andrew Ogles received his B.S. in International Relations from Middle Tennessee State University. Ogles furthered his studies at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, as well as Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business.

He currently serves as Mayor of Maury County. Prior to holding this office, Ogles was president and owner of eNet Media. In 2011, he worked as COO for Abolition International, now called Hope for Justice, a company’s whose mission was to bring an end to sex trafficking & exploitation. In 2012, Ogles worked as the National Deputy Director for

Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign and as Executive Director for TN PAC. Ogles became the executive director of Americans for Prosperity Tennessee in 2013.

Ogles’ supports securing our borders and providing law enforcement with the necessary tools to enforce current immigration laws. He believes individual states should be in charge of education, not the federal government. He supports the Second amendment and protecting the rights of the unborn from the point of conception.

STEWART T. PARKS

Stewart T. Parks was born and raised in Nashville and holds an associate’s degree from Volunteer State Community College. He continued on to study Economics at Ole Miss. He loves Tennessee and Southern History, and has preserved several historic properties in Columbia and Cornersville. Parks calls himself a Tennessee Christian Conservative. He currently works in real estate.

Parks was present at the Jan. 6 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol and was arrested and charged with trespassing. Parks has never previously held public office and has promised to donate 100 percent of his pay to churches if elected.

When asked for the three key components of his campaign, Parks answered: placing a ban on all abortion, overturning Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized same-sex marriage, and impeaching President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson. He also emphasized the importance of U.S. energy independence and is a strong supporter of gun ownership.

TRES WITTUM

Tres Wittum was born in Cleveland, Tenn., and moved to Nashville in 2008. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication, Media Studies, and Political Science from the University of Chattanooga. He belonged to various College Republican organizations and is currently a member of Christians United for Israel.

Wittum has served the Tennessee Senate since 2011, in the Senate Speaker Pro Tempore’s office as well as the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee. He is currently an aide to Senator Bo Watson. In 2017, he was elected chair of the Davidson County Republican Party but was removed following concerns about his eligibility.

Wittum wants to bring Trump’s America First Agenda to Congress for Tennessee, and in interviews he is proud of his long-time support of President Donald Trump, believing in Trump’s accomplishments. He believes his work as an aide for Senator Watson will make him a great U.S. Representative in Tennessee, and that his experience has taught him what matters to people in Tennessee.

KURT WINSTEAD

Kurt Winstead has been a middle Tennessee resident for over 30 years. He graduated from Centre College before earning his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He served in the Tennessee Army National Guard for three decades including service as a Brigadier General during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has practiced law since 1988 and is a partner at Rudy Winstead Turner, PLLC with a focus on business and corporate law.

Winstead is currently a member of the Nashville, Williamson County, Tennessee, and American Bar Associations. He also serves on numerous boards including the Battle Ground Academy Board of Trustees and Leadership Middle Tennessee Board of Directors.

Some of Winstead’s political priorities include defending America from overseas enemies, shutdown of the Southern border, controlling inflation, and fighting the “DC establishment” as a political outsider. He strongly believes in Second Amendment protections and believes there is no need for more gun laws or restrictions. After retiring from military service, he feels this is an opportunity to continue serving his community.

HEIDI CAMPBELL

Heidi Campbell is the only Democrat running for U.S. House of Representatives in District 5. Campbell is currently serving her first term in the Tennessee State Senate, where she sits on several committees, including the Government Operations and the Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources committees. She also is the chair of the Davidson County Legislative Delegation.

Campbell’s campaign centers around “freedom for families first” and advocating for legislation supporting middle-class families. According to her campaign website, Campbell’s primary issues are fiscal accountability, business, the environment, education, and social health. Campbell narrowly beat Republican incumbent Steve Dickerson during her 2020 State Senate campaign, and she sees herself as an underdog once again in her current race.

Campbell previously served two terms as the Mayor of Oak Hill. As a Nashville native, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and her MBA from Vanderbilt University. Outside of her work, Campbell values being a mother and has professional experience as a music industry executive, songwriter and musician.

DISTRICT 6

CLAY FAIRCLOTH

Clay Faircloth was raised in Middle Tennessee and currently lives in Donelson. He has a bachelor’s degree in leadership and ministry from Williamson Christian College, and a master’s degree in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. He has served as a pastor at various churches in Middle Tennessee.

Faircloth’s campaign platforms include: addressing illegal immigration and investing in the stability of migrant’s home countries; protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare and their right to bodily autonomy; investing in public safety and violence reduction; expanding funding for Medicare/Medicaid; establishing a living wage; increasing funding to public schools; and prioritizing agriculture and agribuisness.

RANDAL COOPER

Randal Cooper is a senior project engineer at Nissan. Cooper holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He moved to Nashville shortly after college and currently resides in East Nashville with his wife and son. Cooper has also acted in several local theater elections and published humor in McSweeney’s.

Cooper entered the race in February of 2022, following the announcement that the 6th District would be redrawn to include parts of Nashville. He says that he did not want to be represented by Congressman John Rose, whose views he does not share.

Cooper lists his own views as pro-immigration, prochoice, pro-democracy, and pro-education. On Twitter, he has stated that “Tennesseans deserve someone who represents their interests, and who won’t be a party to Donald Trump’s corruption.”

JOHN ROSE

John Rose was born and still lives in Cookeville, Tenn. He received a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Economics from Tennessee Technological University and a master’s degree in AgricultuXral Economics at Purdue University. He received his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University.

In 1992 he founded Transcender Corp, an Internet Technology (IT) company that was sold in 2000 for $60 million. He currently owns and is the president of a professional IT training company called Boson Software. He also owns a family farm in Temperance Hall, Tenn. His lifelong passion for farming led him to serve the Tennessee State Fair Association as a volunteer for 12 years.

One of the most conservative members of Congress, Rose is focused on reducing government spending, regulation, and the national debt. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and views Second Amendment rights as one of his primary campaign issues, along with continuing to build a wall on the southern border and repealing the Affordable Care Act. He voted against the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

DISTRICT 7

MARK E. GREEN

Mark E. Green is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives Tennessee’s 7th district seat, which he has held since 2019. Born in Florida in 1964, Dr. Green graduated from United States Military Academy with a B.S. in Business Management. After receiving his M.D. from Wright State University, he served as a flight surgeon in the Army during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

Representing the 22nd district, Green served as a member of the Tennessee Senate from 2013-2018, where his legislation ended the Hall Income tax for those receiving interest from stocks and bonds.

In 2017, following concerns about his comments regarding transgender people, Green withdrew his nomination for the United States Secretary of the Army under President Donald Trump.

In February 2022, he sponsored the Keep Schools Open Act, which proposed to withhold federal funding from schools that did not return to in-person instruction due to COVID-19. His platform focuses on lowering taxes, deterring illegal immigration, and advocating for small businesses and veterans.

ODESSA KELLY

Odessa Kelly is an East Nashville natives who graduated from Tennessee State University and earned a Master’s degree in Public Service at Cumberland University. Kelly led the Napier Community Center for over a decade, and co-founded the nonprofit Stand Up Nashville.

Following the 2020 tornado and pandemic, Kelly petitioned for an economic recovery plan to protect local Black communities and organized around the CARES Act. When Nashville funded the soccer stadium, Kelly negotiated an agreement returning some of that investment to those impacted by the stadium’s creation. Kelly has received several awards nationally and locally, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Award and Nashville Scene’s 2018 Activist of the Year.

Kelly supports economic justice for all people; affordable housing; protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; a $15/hour federal minimum wage; and progressive tax rates that require corporations to pay their fair share. She is an advocate of justice and gun reform, LGBTQ+ equality, humane immigration policies, and the Green New Deal.