US Congressman Andy Ogles has lost his Republican primary in Tennessee, marking a rare instance where an endorsement from President Donald Trump failed to secure a win for an incumbent. Charlie Hatcher, the state's former agricultural commissioner, defeated Ogles by a 6.6-point margin with nearly 90 percent of the votes counted.
Ogles was first elected in 2022 and ran in a district redrawn to favor Republican candidates. Despite the district's conservative lean, his tenure faced significant controversy. He drew widespread condemnation for his public comments regarding the Muslim community, including a statement posted earlier this year claiming that Muslims do not belong in American society.
His challenger, Hatcher, took a different public stance. During the campaign, Hatcher rejected Ogles's rhetoric, noting that Muslim American citizens and soldiers serve the country honorably. Hatcher, who also aligns himself with the former president, received a late boost from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
This loss follows another primary defeat for a Trump-backed candidate in Michigan earlier this week. The Republican nominee will now face Democratic challenger Chaz Molder, who serves as the mayor of Columbia, in the November general election. This seat remains one of many House positions that both parties are contesting as they navigate national economic concerns and foreign policy debates ahead of the midterms.