Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles was defeated by a Republican opponent on Thursday, marking a setback for President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, who had attempted to bolster his campaign in the final days.
Charlie Hatcher, a former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner, claimed victory in the GOP primary for the 5th District. Hatcher outpaced Ogles in fundraising, secured a late endorsement from GOP Gov. Bill Lee, and benefited from significant financial support from a renewable energy super PAC.
The combination of this financial backing and a newly redrawn district that expanded Ogles’ voter reach ultimately led to the end of his reelection campaign. Ogles has been embroiled in several controversies since his initial election in 2022.
In June, he removed a homophobic social media post that was criticized by members of his own party. He also faced intense criticism for another post claiming that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” In 2024, the FBI examined Ogles’ phone during a probe into his campaign finance records, following an ethics complaint filed by a watchdog group concerning his use of campaign funds. Additionally, in 2023, Ogles faced scrutiny for inaccuracies in his resume.
Ogles’ defeat makes him the second Trump-endorsed candidate to lose a primary this week, following a Michigan House candidate backed by the president who lost to a challenger who had already withdrawn.
Hatcher will compete against Chaz Molder, the Democratic mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, in November. Molder has demonstrated strong fundraising, whereas Hatcher will essentially need to begin anew.
However, the Republicans have redrawn the district to favor Trump by 23 points, following the Supreme Court’s significant limitation of the Voting Rights Act earlier this year, positioning Hatcher as the leading candidate.
