Nine incumbents lose renomination, most since 1970
Republican Congressman Andy Ogles has lost Tennessee’s 5th congressional district Republican primary, becoming the second Trump-endorsed candidate defeated this week. Former Tennessee agricultural commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated the two-term congressman in Thursday’s contest.
Hours before polls closed, President Donald Trump said Ogles had his “complete and total endorsement for re-election.” In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “Congressman Andy Ogles is doing a fantastic job,” adding, “Andy is a Conservative Warrior who has strong support from his Community.”
The Tennessee result follows the defeat of a Trump-backed Republican candidate in Michigan on Wednesday, though candidates the president endorsed also recorded wins this week. John James won Michigan’s Republican nomination for governor despite being heavily outspent by his opponent; Trump spoke in support of James and appeared on stage with him last week. In Kansas, Republicans selected Trump’s choice for governor, and Amanda McKinney, the president’s pick in a Washington state House race, finished first.
Hatcher is expected to face Columbia mayor Chaz Molder, who won the Democratic primary, in November. All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be up for election in November’s midterms.
Ogles, who has represented Tennessee’s 5th district since taking office in 2023, has been at the center of a number of controversies during his time in Congress. He was investigated over alleged campaign finance violations but was not charged with a crime and has denied wrongdoing. He also sparked backlash for anti-Muslim comments, including posts on X.
In another Tennessee race this week, Trump-backed Amir Hassan finished significantly behind Tom Smith, who had suspended his campaign in July and endorsed another candidate.
Trump’s endorsement remains highly sought after in Republican primaries, and he had a string of wins this week. This year’s primary season has seen an unusually high number of incumbents lose their party’s renomination: six Democrats and three Republicans have been defeated, the highest number in a non-redistricting election cycle since 1970, according to Vital Statistics on Congress.