Trump-backed Andy Ogles loses reelection bid and other Tennessee primary results

Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated conservative firebrand Rep. Andy Ogles on Thursday in the Republican primary in the state’s newly redrawn 5th District, in the latest loss for a Trump-backed candidate.

Hatcher will face Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who won the Democratic primary, in November.

While President Donald Trump’s endorsement has proven decisive in many Republican primaries this year, he’s also seen some notable defeats. In governor’s races in Iowa and Georgia, Randy Feenstra and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones fell short in their bids, while Trump issued a dual endorsement in South Carolina after his initial pick, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, failed to avoid a runoff and ultimately lost.

Ogles’ defeat comes just days after Michigan Republicans spurned the president’s recommendation in a House race – backing Tom Smith, a little known candidate who dropped out of the primary in July, over Trump-backed Amir Hassan.

“Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning,” Trump posted Friday on Truth Social, referencing Ogles. He gave Hatcher his “Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Several key races were on the ballot in Tennessee Thursday, as voters cast their first ballots under a new Republican-drawn congressional map aimed at delivering the GOP a clean sweep of the state’s nine districts.

Trump saw success in the redrawn 9th District, where his chosen candidate, GOP state Sen. Brent Taylor, will take on Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson, after Republican lawmakers pushed through a new congressional map earlier this year that split the current Memphis-based seat into three separate districts that favor the GOP.

Thursday’s primaries also set the general election matchup in the race for governor in deep-red Tennessee, although Trump stayed on the sidelines of the Republican contest. CNN projects that GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn will face Democratic Memphis City Councilmember Jerri Green in the fall – a guarantee that Tennessee’s next governor will be the first woman to hold the role.

See the results below:

Another Trump-backed candidate loses

Ogles, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, is a staunch Trump ally but has frequently been at the center of controversy during his time in Congress.

Most recently, Republican and Democratic lawmakers in June condemned a now-deleted post on Ogles’ X account that said, “Homosexuality has no place in America,” which the congressman blamed on a staffer. But Ogles has stood by similar remarks declaring what the country should look like, writing in March on X that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.”

He has also been the subject of a congressional ethics inquiry into whether he violated campaign finance laws.

Hatcher, however, was bolstered by his strong political ties in the state – including an endorsement from GOP Gov. Bill Lee in the final days of the primary. Hatcher promised to support Trump if elected, which the president noted in his Truth Social post, calling Hatcher a “Great ‘Trump’ Candidate.”

A fifth-generation dairy farmer, Hatcher pledges to work to support farmers, protect American food security, reduce energy costs and improve public infrastructure if elected in November.

Since it was redrawn in May amid a wave of mid-cycle redistricting, Tennessee’s 5th District takes on a long, skinny shape snaking up from Memphis to the Kentucky border and down again to part of Williamson County. It includes parts of 17 counties.

The new district lines are more advantageous to Republicans, giving Hatcher an edge heading into November.

Ogles’ loss complicates Democrats’ path

Heading into Thursday, Democrats were hopeful that a favorable national political environment along with a strong potential candidate in Molder and a series of controversies swirling around Ogles could potentially put the seat in play.

Hatcher’s win may change those calculations.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee offered early support to Molder, who was was first elected mayor in 2018 when he defeated a two-term incumbent Republican, including him in its “Red to Blue” program for strong recruits.

While redistricting upended the race this spring, Molder decided to continue his run, centering his campaign on issues like lowering the cost of living, expanding healthcare access and making housing more affordable.

He defeated four other candidates to secure the Democratic nomination. Molder far out-raised other candidates in both parties vying for the 5th District, bringing in $2.6 million by mid-July, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

A member of the ‘Tennessee Three’ faces stiff odds in redrawn district

The 9th District race serves as a case study in mid-decade redistricting and how quickly it can transform electoral dynamics.

As part of a national wave of partisan redistricting kicked off by Texas Republicans last summer, GOP state lawmakers approved a new congressional map in May, breaking up the Black-majority district centered on Memphis, the state’s lone Democratic seat, to favor Republicans. The move prompted U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who has held the seat for nearly 20 years, to announce he would not seek reelection.

Pearson, who defeated state Sen. London Lamar in the primary, gained national prominence in 2023 as one of three Tennessee lawmakers who Republicans in the state legislature moved to expel following a gun control protest. He was expelled from the legislature but ultimately reinstated.

He now advances to a general election facing stiff odds in the new 9th District, as Democrats hope to overcome the transformed political landscape.

Pearson will face Taylor, a fellow state legislator who has aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump, describing his campaign as “ironclad impeachment insurance.”

Taylor’s bid was bolstered by Trump’s support and that of Tennessee’s two Republican senators, Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

Blackburn defeats Rose

Blackburn’s win Thursday positions her to become the first female governor of the reliably red state.

Blackburn, who has represented Tennessee in the state legislature and U.S. Congress since the 1990s, defeated Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts. She entered the race as a heavy favorite to succeed GOP Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited, but she faced unexpected pressure in its home stretch.

With President Donald Trump declining to endorse in the race, Blackburn touted her support for his agenda. She took flak from Rose, however, over her vote to certify former President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory and her refusal to debate.

Despite the headwinds, Blackburn prevailed and looks set to add to her lengthy resume in Tennessee politics, advancing to a general election where she’s favored to hold the governor’s office for Republicans.

Democrats select a nominee for governor

In a state that President Donald Trump won by almost 30 points in 2024, Green will likely face a steep uphill battle against Blackburn.

She campaigned on ending Tennessee’s grocery tax, increasing funding for public schools and eliminating medical debt for thousands of people.

Green began her career as a juvenile public defender and currently serves as Shelby County’s interim chief public defender, a role she took on at the start of 2026. On public safety, Green has emphasized a rehabilitative approach to justice and the importance of ensuring fair courtroom representation.

Seen as the front-runner throughout the primary, Green defeated activist Carnita Atwater and pastor Kevin Lee McCants to secure the party nomination.