Maryam Abolfazli

Maryam Abolfazli (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Abolfazli completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Maryam Abolfazli was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Hume Fogg High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe University in 2000 and a graduate degree from Columbia University in 2005. Her career experience includes working as an executive director.^[1]

Elections

2024

Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 1 Republican primary)

Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 1 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Incumbent Andy Ogles defeated Maryam Abolfazli, Jim Larkin, Bob Titley, and Yomi Faparusi in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 5 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Andy Ogles (R)	56.9	205,075
	Maryam Abolfazli (D)	39.5	142,387
	Jim Larkin (Independent)	2.1	7,607
	Bob Titley (Independent)	0.8	3,065
	Yomi Faparusi (Independent)	0.7	2,580

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 360,714
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Maryam Abolfazli advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5 on August 1, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Maryam Abolfazli	100.0	29,242

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,242
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Arnie Malham (D)
Kiran Sreepada (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Incumbent Andy Ogles defeated Courtney Johnston in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5 on August 1, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Andy Ogles	56.5	32,062
	Courtney Johnston	43.5	24,646

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,708
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Geoffrey Stokes Nielson (R)
Thomas Guarente (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Abolfazli in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Maryam Abolfazli completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Abolfazli's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Maryam Abolfazli, Maryam Abolfazli is a storyteller, nonprofit leader, mother. She is a native Tennessean, born and raised with the values of family, community, and freedom for all.

She built her career as an international economic and political development professional in Eurasia and the Middle East to improve the political and economic realities of marginalized communities. After returning to Tennessee to raise her child, she organized the March 30th Gun Reform Rally with friends, organizations, and neighbors who re-energized a powerful movement for democracy and gun safety in Tennessee and led to the establishment of Rise and Shine TN, a volunteer organization of Tennesseans working to create decisive change in Tennessee.

Maryam has spent the last year working with women and mothers who have been advocating for their rights and families in Tennessee. She understands the dire need for change and is committed to usher it in.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Women and moms deserve freedom and access to abortion.
Families and kids deserve safety from irresponsible gun violence.
Every family deserves economic opportunity.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Women's reproductive rights and healthcare, gun safety, economic opportunity for all.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, a sense of community, an ability to stand up to bullies. Never let ego be the reason for being in office.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Doing what is right for all communities and representing the needs and voices of the people in the 5th District. Making sure everyone is safe, free and able to thrive.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working at the Cumberland Science Museum

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Personally, I think having an appreciation for the immense work that governing is, is useful. It doesn't have to be necessarily in government but perhaps interacting with or engaging with government to appreciate its workings is important.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Extremism, distrust in government, authoritarian attempts of control, policies that value one life over another, breakdown of community values, harmful bullying.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Honestly I think it's creating some of the chaos that we see today. Four year term limits might calm that noise down.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

They are excellent and a bedrock of American democracy.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. A democracy is made up of professionals that work together with different ideas and points of view to create the best policies for the people.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Every elected official should be held accountable and transparent. If elected to office, it will be a priority to increase transparency and accountability at all levels of government. accountability.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Abolfazli’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Campaign Issues Reproductive Freedom I firmly believe in upholding the right to abortion as established under Roe v. Wade. Currently, it’s not safe to be pregnant in Tennessee. Women’s lives and livelihoods are in crisis. We must have the freedom to make our own healthcare decisions without government interference. I will work tirelessly to protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, IVF, and contraception, ensuring that every individual can control their own bodies and futures. Gun Safety We must fight for safety of our communities and protect our kids from the current #1 killer of children in Tennessee. Gun violence is a public health crisis that demands urgent action. I will advocate for evidence-based gun safety measures to encourage responsible gun ownership including universal background checks, closing loopholes, waiting periods, safe storage laws, and regulating high-powered, semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines. Affordability Every family deserves the dignity of meaningful work and the opportunity to not just survive, but thrive. I will champion policies that support affordability, including the child tax credit, affordable housing solutions, to protect and expand dignified work and provide robust support for small businesses. This includes enhancing access to affordable childcare, and equitable opportunities for income growth. By addressing income inequality and providing the resources necessary for financial security, we can ensure that everyone has the means to make ends meet and build a better future. Other Issues Healthcare Access: Healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. Every American should have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. However, Tennessee leads the nation in medical bankruptcies and 70% of Tennesseans hold medical debt. No one should have to choose between medical care and food, rent, or paying their bills. That’s why I will work to ensure that every Tennessean can receive the care they need without financial hardship. No one should go bankrupt because of illness or injury. In Congress, I will support legislation that will lower the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare premiums. I will fight for a public option, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and address the growing mental health crisis facing our children. I will advocate for doctors who seek to provide the care they are trained and licensed to give. LGBTQIA+ We have an obligation to protect the civil rights afforded to those within our LGBTQIA+ community: To protect them from discrimination, ignorance and intolerance. This includes fighting against discrimination in all forms, securing marriage equality, and promoting inclusive healthcare policies that address the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. I have fought against discrimination of the LGBTQIA+ community and I will work to create safe and supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities, so that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live openly and authentically without fear of prejudice or harm. Every one of us has the right to be who we are and to love who we choose. In Congress, I would strongly support Tennessee’s LGBTQIA+ constituents and work to pass the Equality Act for civil rights protections regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Civil Rights Civil rights protections must be safeguarded. Equity, diversity, and inclusion matters to ensure that everyone can be their authentic selves and contribute to their communities and to Tennessee overall. Discrimination of any kind must be fought because it holds back all of us when Tennesseans aren’t able to be safe and accepted in our state. Integrated communities are more empathetic, accepting, innovative and peaceful. I have fought for equity as Chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission and will continue to fight for this in all my capacities. We have to be vigilant against the constant and unceasing attempts to roll back civil protections and equitable programs, by the Supreme Court and Congress. I support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 and legislation like it that aim to protect voting rights and prevent states from further deteriorating voting rights. Foreign Policy CHINA: China has one goal, to prop up their economy, off the backs of the American consumer. Their practices, including the theft of intellectual property and trade secrets, threaten American industry, manufacturing, and jobs. I applaud the recent U.S. tariffs on China, which are essential to the protection and growth of local manufacturing like the new $2.3B General Motors car battery plant in Spring Hill. In addition, China is the world’s leading climate polluter. Their practices have made them the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. We must ensure their cooperation to address climate change. Further, we must put an end to the threat that China poses to our democracy and the human rights of those who stand in contrast to their authoritarian beliefs. UKRAINE: Putin is a threat to democracy, to world stability, and to state sovereignty. The way that he has attacked a truly democratic nation with the aim to control it violates international law. I’ve been shocked at how Congress has dragged its feet in support of Ukraine, but that it was finally approved. The US must continue to support Ukraine to not embolden Putin’s aggressive agenda that threatens our NATO allies. ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: The one thing I’ve heard from both Jewish and Muslim communities is their deep concern for the innocent men, women, and children who have lost their lives in this war. As I’ve said from the beginning, there is no path to peace without a ceasefire. The hostages taken by Hamas must be brought home and the obliteration of Gaza put to an end. Hamas and Netanyahu can do this. The United States, as well as the rest of the international community, must do everything it can to steer them in this direction. According to the Lancet, a reputable scientific journal, it is estimated that close to 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or have died from starvation, infectious diseases, wounds, and lack of medication and care in the last ten months. The entire healthcare and educational infrastructure has been decimated by Israeli forces. I will fight to end this suffering now and for the long term. I support the calls for changes within Israel that will end the extremism in their government. ^[2]	”
—Maryam Abolfazli’s campaign website (2024)^[3]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Maryam Abolfazli campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Tennessee District 5	Lost general	$428,528	$428,528
Grand total			$428,528	$428,528
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 10, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Maryam Abolfazli’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 18, 2024

[show]

Tennessee's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Bill Hagerty (R)

Representatives

District 1

Diana Harshbarger (R)

District 2

Tim Burchett (R)

District 3

Charles Fleischmann (R)

District 4

Scott DesJarlais (R)

District 5

Andy Ogles (R)

District 6

John Rose (R)

District 7

Vacant

District 8

David Kustoff (R)

District 9

Steve Cohen (D)

Republican Party (9)

Democratic Party (1)

Vacancies (1)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 10, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Maryam Abolfazli’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 18, 2024

[1]

[2]

[3]

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Maryam Abolfazli

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 5

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

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2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

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