Former House Speaker Beth Harwell to run for redrawn 5th Congressional District

The former speaker of the Tennessee House has announced a bid for Congress. Republican Beth Harwell says she’ll run in the new 5th Congressional District, which includes much of her old legislative district in south Nashville.

Harwell spent eight years as speaker and was the first woman to lead the state House. Her career as a state representative spanned three decades. She retired to launch a failed bid for governor in 2018. 

The 5th Congressional District, which now includes much of Wilson county and stretches south to Maury County, is an open seat. Democrat Jim Cooper announced his retirement after the district was redrawn to lean heavily Republican. 

Harwell faces a crowded Republican primary. Her challengers include more-recent transplants to Tennessee like former state department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus and former music video producer Robby Starbuck. Though, a bill in the state legislature could impose residency requirements that keep them off the primary ballot. Retired National Guard Brigadier General Kurt Winstead and businessman Baxter Lee have also jumped into the race.

Nashville civil servant Odessa Kelly had announced a run for Tennessee’s 5th District before the maps were redrawn. In a statement last month she said the new congressional maps place her residence in a new district. WPLN News reached out to a campaign spokesperson for a status update and did not immediately receive a response.