From support for impeaching Biden to border wall policy, GOPers in 5th congressional race debate

Republican candidates vying for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District stayed true to their conservative roots and policies during a debate on Monday.

All nine candidates competing for the newly drawn district, expected to favor Republicans, appeared on stage for a debate hosted by the Maury County Republican Party.

Party vice chair Debbie Matthews called it "the biggest event in Tennessee in 25 years" as over 300 Republican voters crammed into the Memorial Building in downtown Columbia for its annual Reagan dinner.

The candidates in attendance were:

• Geni Batchelor

• Jeff Beierlein

• Natisha Brooks

• Beth Harwell

• Tim Lee

• Andy Ogles

• Stewart Parks

• Kurt Winstead

• Tres Wittum

Candidates were asked questions about gun rights, abortion, immigration, education and several other hot-button topics.

More: Who won the 5th Congressional District candidate debate in Maury County?

The crowd periodically applauded when the candidates hit key issues such as building a wall, an initiative under former President Donald Trump's administration, and securing America's borders through immigration policies. The crowd also applauded when candidates spoke of reclaiming U.S. energy independence, through reopening the Keystone Pipeline and relinquishing dependence on foreign oil, as well as scaling back on federal education policies.

A predominant theme was upholding state's rights, while decreasing federal government policies, especially in education and decisions about abortion.

Differences emerge on hot-button issues

The most notable differences appeared when the moderators asked the candidates whether they favored impeaching President Joe Biden and who was seeking the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Trump initially endorsed Morgan Ortagus for the congressional seat, but she was removed from the ballot, along with Robby Starbuck and Baxter Lee, for not meeting the state Republican Party's requirements.

Trump has not endorsed another candidate in the race yet.

Harwell, the former Tennessee Speaker of the House, Beierlein and Lee were the only three candidates to say they wouldn't impeach Biden and wouldn't be seeking Trump's endorsement.

Harwell said she wouldn't impeach Biden because it would lead Vice President Kamala Harris to become president. She also said she wasn't seeking Trump's endorsement but instead the "endorsement of the people of the 5th district."

Harwell, along with Ogles, the Maury County Mayor, and Winstead, a former Brigadier General, are the early favorites in the race, based on fundraising.

Lee and Beierlein cited Trump's endorsement of Ortagus as the reason they didn't want his endorsement.

The 5th Congressional District, which was redrawn earlier this year, now covers parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties, along with completely covering Lewis, Maury and Marshall counties.

More: Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidates report nearly $2.7 million in war chests

More: Gov. Bill Lee signs redistricting bills dividing Davidson County into three congressional districts

Candidates' most passionate issue

Each candidate was asked by the debate's moderators the one issue in which they were most passionate. Moderators were Tom Price, director of Maury County Archives and Brian Wilson, WTN 99.7 radio host.

Batchelor, a businesswoman, said she was most passionate about going to congress and being productive, adding she would want "solve our problems instead of arguing over them and not getting anywhere."

Beierlein, a former U.S. Army aviator, said his goal was to stabilize the U.S. economy, adding the government has a "spending problem" that he would try to solve.

Brooks, who operates a homeschool, said mental illness was one of the nation's most significant issues and needed to be addressed, adding, "guns don't kill, it's people with mental illness that kill."

Harwell said she was passionate about reining in federal overreach, adding "the federal government powers need to be returned to the states" and that she would favor the dissolution of the federal education department.

Lee, a first responder, said the country needs healthcare reform, adding fentanyl and mental health issues have become "a problem" that needs to be solved, citing that too many citizens have died from drug overdoses.

Ogles said he would prioritize securing the border and finishing the border wall proposed by Trump, arguing that "more people will come into this country illegally this year than the size of 21 states."

Winstead said he would focus on "putting America first," adding he prioritized securing the border and "strengthening America."

Wittum, a former Republican State Senate staffer, said he wants to repeal the 17th amendment, which allows the direct election of senators, adding state lawmakers need a voice in the federal government by choosing their senators.

Parks, who owns several real estate-related companies in Tennessee, said the main reason he is running is to "end abortion forever," adding he would allow no exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother and push for a federal ban of the medical procedure.

Parks is under federal indictment as part of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. He was charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct and violent entry on capitol grounds. During the debate, Parks said although he fully supports the 2nd Amendment, he is currently not permitted to carry a firearm due to the charges.

Adam Friedman is The Tennessean’s state government and politics reporter. Reach him by email at afriedman@tennessean.com.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 5th district GOP debate: Calls to impeach Biden among topics discussed