A Republican congressman endorsed by President Donald Trump was defeated in Tennessee’s Republican primary on Thursday, marking the second time this week that a candidate backed by the president has fallen short ahead of the November midterm elections.
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated two-term Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, ending Ogles’ bid for another term in Congress despite receiving Trump’s endorsement just hours before voting concluded.
Trump threw his support behind the incumbent in a Truth Social post released on Election Day, praising Ogles’ record and urging Republican voters to back him.
“Congressman Andy Ogles is doing a fantastic job,” Trump wrote.
The president also described Ogles as “a Conservative Warrior who has strong support from his Community.”
Despite the late endorsement, Ogles was unable to secure enough support to win renomination, with Hatcher emerging victorious in the closely watched Republican contest.
The outcome serves as another reminder that while Trump’s endorsement continues to carry significant influence within Republican primaries, it has not guaranteed victory in every race during this election cycle.
With his primary win, Hatcher advances to the general election in November, where he is expected to face Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who won the Democratic nomination for the district.
The race marks a major political shift in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, which Ogles has represented since 2023.
During his time in Congress, Ogles faced scrutiny stemming from an investigation into alleged campaign finance violations. Ogles denied the allegations.
He also drew attention for inflammatory remarks about Muslims that he made on social media.
The Tennessee primary represented one of the more closely watched contests of the week, particularly after Trump weighed in with a last-minute endorsement intended to boost the incumbent’s campaign.
While the endorsement underscored the president’s continued involvement in Republican primaries, voters ultimately selected Hatcher to represent the party in November’s election.
The loss also marks the second defeat this week for a candidate endorsed by Trump, highlighting that his support, although influential, has not been decisive in every primary contest leading into the midterms.
Even so, the president continued to notch victories elsewhere around the country.
Trump-backed candidates prevailed in several other primary races this week, including contests in Michigan, Kansas, and Washington state, adding to his list of successful endorsements despite the setback in Tennessee.
Those victories helped offset the loss by Ogles and demonstrated that Trump’s endorsements continue to play a prominent role in Republican primaries across multiple states.
With the Tennessee primary now settled, Hatcher will turn his attention to the general election campaign against Democratic nominee Chaz Molder as Republicans seek to hold the district in November.
The result underscores the mixed record of Trump’s endorsements during the current election cycle. While many candidates backed by the president have advanced through their primaries, Thursday’s outcome in Tennessee showed that voter decisions can still diverge from the president’s recommendations, even when his endorsement is delivered on the day of the election.
For Republicans looking ahead to the midterms, the race adds another chapter to a week of competitive primaries that featured both notable victories and high-profile defeats for candidates supported by the president.
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