Trump-endorsed Ogles loses Tennessee House GOP primary

Campaign Trump-endorsed Ogles loses Tennessee House GOP primary Comments: by Ryan Mancini - 08/06/26 9:37 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Ryan Mancini - 08/06/26 9:37 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Republican Rep. Andy Ogles (Tenn.) is projected to fall short in a Thursday primary for the 5th Congressional District, delivering a blow to President Trump, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher, the lone Republican challenger in the race, is set to defeat Ogles, who was backed by the president.

The district went from being a likely win for a Republican in November to being solid red in Hatcher’s favor due to mid-decade redistricting, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. He faced slim competition, serving as Ogles’s sole opponent in the GOP primary.

Hatcher is expected to face off against Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder (D) in November.

Molder has significantly outraised Hatcher, leading all candidates in fundraising with nearly $2.6 million, while Hatcher raised over $700,000, according to the Federal Election Commission’s data.

But Hatcher is on a glidepath to Congress after Gov. Bill Lee (R) approved a GOP-led redrawn House map in May. The new map gives Hatcher the edge over Molder, while Rep. Steve Cohen’s (D-Tenn.) 9th District shifts from solid Democrat to solid Republican.

Hatcher won endorsements from former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and former Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). The physician has praised Trump, mentioning the president’s name across his campaign website.

“Trump would have been a fantastic farmer because he has that work ethic. But it might not be enough money for him! He gets things done. Think what President Trump could do if our congressman spent less time talking and more time doing,” Hatcher says on his campaign website in a dig at Ogles.

The redrawn map was seen to benefit Hatcher with more agriculture-focused communities giving him a boost. Campaign consultant John Newman told Axios that Hatcher “relates to folks in the newly drawn congressional district much better than the current occupant.”

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