Amidst a backdrop of protesters, Rep. Andy Ogles defends ‘One Big Beautiful’ bill at Spring Hill event

U.S. Representative Republican Andy Ogles made a rare public appearance this weekend in Spring Hill.

The event wasn’t a typical town hall. Hosted by the conservative political group Americans for Prosperity, attendees had to register to get in and some were turned away at the door. Before the event began, Ogles verbally sparred with protesters outside.

Ogles repeatedly yelled at one to “take off your mask,” and asked “why are you such a coward?” as the protester declared “you don’t support healthcare.”

The event was branded as a discussion of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut taxes and increased border and military spending, while slashing spending on Medicaid and social safety net programs.

Ogles said he supported the bill but wished it had gone even further.

“It wasn’t as conservative as I wanted or that you would want,” Ogles said. “But we’re moving in a way, changing the way Washington D.C. functions.”

Many protesters said they had gathered because of their concerns over the bill, which Trump signed on July 4.

“The cuts to Medicaid are going to have horrendous effects on all of us who live in the smaller, rural counties,” Spring Hill resident Teri Mai said. “He [Ogles] needs to know that we don’t support him, not everybody supports him, and we want change.”

But many have encountered barriers in relaying their concerns to Ogles.

“He does not respond, he does not hold town halls,” Spring Hill resident Sarah Lowery said. “He does not answer any concerns his constituents have when they call him. It’s just a brush off.”

Cynthia Abrams WPLN News

Protesters gathered outside as Rep. Andy Ogles prepared to speak in Spring Hill.

Even some Ogles supporters who were inside the event said they had questions about his decisions since being elected.

“There are a lot of things unanswered,” said Larry Hardesty, who lives in Maury County and voted for Ogles. “There are a lot of things that were started that I didn’t hear about before the election. Tariffs and things like that. So I’m a little concerned about the turmoil that stirred up over that, and I think that it’s difficult for business people and individuals to make choices now with what’s going on.”

Only a few attendees were permitted to ask questions. The bulk of the conversation was moderated as Ogles spoke on the bill. He also touched on immigration, the economy and his desire to bring the National Guard to Nashville, saying that Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell needed to “secure the city.”

Last week, O’Connell told reporters he didn’t know where Ogles was getting his “alternative data,” and pointed to the Metro Nashville Police Department’s violent crime statistics, which have dropped this year by 12.5% overall.

“I understand that this is a congressman who is himself under investigation and seems to be showing off for the president so he can get a pardon,” O’Connell said. “This is somebody who is involved in a political race of his own but seems more invested in a city he neither has an office in nor lives in. It is absurd hearing his claims about crime stats.”

Much of Ogles’ tenure has been plagued by controversy, between campaign finance issues and a contentious gun-toting Christmas card, which surfaced in the wake of the Covenant School shooting. Even his election to Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District — which includes a swath of Nashville, plus portions of Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Wilson and Williamson Counties — was won after a controversial redistricting. The 5th Congressional District was formerly a Democratic seat, but was redrawn to favor Republicans.

The national Democratic party has marked Ogles’ seat as a vulnerable one in the upcoming midterm elections. Just last week, Ogles’ longtime political foe, Democratic Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, announced his intention to run for the seat. Nashville Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese, Joyce Neal and James Torino also intend to vie for the Democratic ticket. Ken Brown and Lowell Reynolds have filed to run as independents.

Clarification: There are now seven candidates who have filed to run in this contest. This story did not initially include the full field.