Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Tennessee Primary to Charlie Hatcher

Rep. Andy Ogles lost his Republican primary in Tennessee’s 5th District on August 6, falling to former state agricultural commissioner Charlie Hatcher. The defeat dealt a rare blow to President Trump, who had given Ogles his “complete and total endorsement” hours before voting ended. Ogles, first elected in 2022, faced outspending on television ads and controversies including anti-Muslim statements and a federal campaign finance investigation.

How Hatcher defeated the incumbent

Charlie Hatcher won with a 6.6-point lead over Ogles when nearly 90 percent of votes were counted. Hatcher received backing from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, former Governor Bill Haslam, and former Trump Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. A pro-clean energy group, Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, spent heavily on ads supporting Hatcher and opposing Ogles, while the Freedom Caucus Fund spent hundreds of thousands backing Ogles.

Ogles’ controversies and the campaign finance probe

Ogles made anti-Muslim posts on X, writing “Muslims don’t belong in American society” and “America and Islam are incompatible.” He was investigated for alleged campaign finance violations but was not charged with a crime and has denied wrongdoing. The Justice Department returned his cellphone, which it had seized during the investigation. Ogles also deleted a homophobic social media post after blaming a staffer and argued the federal government should revoke and deport New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s citizenship.

The redrawn district and November matchup

Tennessee Republicans redrew the 5th District earlier in 2026 to favor Republicans after previously splitting Davidson County into three GOP-leaning districts. The new district includes parts of Williamson and Maury counties, rural West Tennessee, and Memphis. Hatcher will face Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, the Democratic primary winner, in November’s general election in the deep-red district, where Hatcher is a heavy favorite.

Trump’s mixed record in Tennessee primaries

While Ogles’ defeat marked a setback for Trump, the president had other wins Thursday. Trump-backed state Senator Brent Taylor won the GOP nomination in the newly redrawn 9th District, setting up a November race against AOC-backed progressive state Representative Justin Pearson, one of the “Tennessee Three” expelled after a gun control protest in 2023. Senator Marsha Blackburn also won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump’s support.

Final Thoughts

Ogles’ primary loss shows Trump’s endorsement is not guaranteed to protect incumbents facing well-funded challengers and establishment opposition. Hatcher’s victory in a deep-red district makes him the likely next representative from Tennessee’s 5th District after November.

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