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Voters in Tennessee dealt President Trump a blow and rejected Republican Rep. Andy Ogles at the polls Thursday.
The second-term lawmaker faced a formidable primary challenge from Charlie Hatcher, a former state agriculture commissioner endorsed by outgoing Gov. Bill Lee (R). Hatcher’s victory is the latest blemish on Trump’s largely successful endorsement record this cycle.
Thursday’s primaries also marked the first elections with the Volunteer State’s new House map after lawmakers approved GOP-friendly redistricting this spring.
The state’s current House delegation includes eight Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen. But GOP legislators redrew the map at Trump’s urging to create a 9-0 GOP edge after the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision dismantling a part of the Voting Rights Act this spring.
Early voting alone in Shelby County, home to Memphis and now divided into three House districts, shows voters are engaged despite the changes to the congressional lines.
Meanwhile, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) looks to be one step closer to making history again in Tennessee after she won her GOP primary for the governor’s mansion.
Here are the key takeaways from Tennessee’s primaries:
Trump takes hit in fiery House primary
Trump took a major hit in the newly drawn 5th Congressional District after his pick, Ogles, lost his primary. Charlie Hatcher is projected to secure the GOP nod, according to Decision Desk HQ.
The president attended a tele-rally for Ogles in late July, calling the House Republican “a terrific guy,”
This is the second House primary Trump has come up short in this week. On Tuesday, Republican Amir Hassan lost his race in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District to a candidate who previously dropped out of the race.
Ogles has come under fire over some of his rhetoric over the years and faced outside opposition to his reelection bid in the 5th district, which extends outward from the state’s northwestern corner into a lobster-like figure in East and Middle Tennessee.
The former Maury County mayor said that “Muslims don’t below in American society” in March and stated that “homosexuality has no place in America” in June.
The congressman later said on the social platform X that a member of his communications team made the June post, calling the remarks “stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction from my America First focus.” He added that he “reprimanded” his aide.
Meanwhile, Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, which is aligned with the clean energy sector, poured $2 million into the race to support Hatcher and attack Ogles.
Ogles was also previously under investigation by the Justice Department over his campaign finances. Federal prosecutors backed off the probe, which began during the Biden era, in May, according to The Associated Press.
DDHQ rates Ogles’ new seat as safely Republican, meaning Hatcher is expected to win the seat in November.
Memphis posts strong early turnout after GOP redistricting
Shelby County, home to Memphis, posted strong turnout numbers heading into the first primary elections since Republicans redrew the House map to favor the party in November.
Blue-leaning Shelby County is currently separated into two congressional districts: the 8th and 9 districts. The 8th District is represented by GOP Rep. David Kustoff and voted for former Trump by 20 percentage points in 2024, according to The Downballot.
Meanwhile, the 9th District, represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, voted for former Vice President Harris by 21 points in 2024.
But the new map instituted in May split Shelby County into three districts — the 5th, 8th and 9th Districts, weakening the Democratic stronghold. All three districts are now rated as solidly Republican by Cook Political Report.
Data from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office showed that over 90,000 people — or a fifth of total registered voters in the county — voted early from July 17 to Aug. 1. This marks a 4 percent increase from 2022.
More than 61,000 voters identified as Democrats while just shy of 28,000 registered as Republicans.
While early Democratic turnout is historically higher in the region, the results show the party twice as engaged as the GOP in the county that will play a key role in three different congressional races.
Kustoff ran unopposed Thursday, while Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor and Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson (D) won their respective primaries for Cohen’s seat. Hatcher is poised to face off against Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who is projected to win the Democratic primary in the 5th district.
Blackburn on track to become state’s first woman governor
Blackburn is one step closer to becoming Tennessee’s first woman governor after she defeated Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) and state Rep. Monty Fritts (R) in Thursday’s GOP primary.
Trump notably declined to weigh in on the primary after backing both Blackburn and Rose in previous congressional bids. Blackburn will now take on Democrat Jerri Green, a Memphis City Council member, in November.
Blackburn made history in 2018 when she was elected as Tennessee’s first woman senator.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Tennessee!” Blackburn wrote on X Thursday.
“Tonight, I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen me as your Republican nominee for Governor. Together, we’ve taken a major step toward that goal. I won’t let you down,” she added. “On to November.”
Blackburn is almost certain to win the general election to succeed Lee, who is term limited, the state’s reliably red leanings. The Volunteer State hasn’t elected a Democrat for governor in two decades.
Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen, who served as the state’s chief executive from 2003-2011, ran against Blackburn in the 2018 Senate race, losing by over 10 points.
Blackburn’s Senate term is not up until 2030, and Tennessee law suggests the GOP senator could potentially pick her own replacement.
“If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, a successor shall be elected at the next regular November election and shall hold office until the term for which the predecessor was elected expires,” according to Tennessee code.
“If the vacancy will deprive the state of its full representation at any time congress may be in session, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected at the next regular November election and is qualified.”
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