A Republican primary in Tennessee saw U.S. Representative Andy Ogles defeated by former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher on Thursday, marking a rare rejection of a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump.
The contest unfolded in a significantly redrawn congressional district, highlighting the impact of recent redistricting efforts across the state.
The primaries served as the initial test for a new House map, which Republican state lawmakers redrew in May following the Supreme Court's decision to weaken federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.
President Trump had publicly supported the redistricting, viewing it as part of a broader national strategy to maintain a slim House majority in the upcoming midterm elections. Republicans currently hold eight of the state’s nine congressional seats and are aiming for a complete sweep in November.
Ogles, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, faced scrutiny over his campaign finances and resume. Despite these controversies, President Trump offered an early endorsement last fall, praising him on Election Day as "a Conservative Warrior" as Ogles sought a third term.
Ogles had previously benefited from a 2022 redistricting that reshaped a formerly Democratic-held seat to favor Republicans by dividing the Nashville area.
The newly configured 5th District, stretching from Ogles’ central Tennessee base to the state's northwest corner and then south along the Mississippi River to Memphis, features an estimated 82 percent new voters.
Hatcher, while lacking President Trump’s endorsement, received backing from Republican Governor Bill Lee, under whom he served for seven years.
Hatcher campaigned as pro-Trump, emphasizing his agricultural background. Following his victory, Hatcher told the Associated Press, "The message resonated, and the message was: Work like a farmer, get things done and serve others." Ogles' campaign declined to comment on the outcome.
Among Ogles' past controversies was the FBI's seizure of his cellphone in 2024 as part of a campaign finance investigation, though the Justice Department has since agreed to return the device, signaling the probe's abandonment. In 2023, he also acknowledged misrepresenting his college degree.
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder secured the Democratic primary in the 5th District.
Meanwhile, voters also selected a pair of Memphis-area lawmakers to compete in another vastly reconfigured U.S. House district.
State Senator Brent Taylor, backed by President Trump, will face Democratic state Representative Justin Pearson. Pearson gained national attention after his expulsion from the Tennessee House for protesting in support of gun control measures, only to be subsequently reelected by voters.
The new 9th District, which previously favored Democrats, now extends approximately 200 miles east from Memphis across rural areas before reaching north toward Nashville, and now tilts Republican, with 71 percent of its voters new to the district.
Longtime Democratic Representative Steve Cohen announced he would not seek reelection after the redistricting.
Speaking to supporters on Thursday, Pearson noted the significance of the date, marking 61 years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act. He contended that the Supreme Court and Tennessee lawmakers have effectively undermined parts of the act, leading to the redrawing of the formerly majority-Black district.
"The political dilution and degradation of our rights is happening," Pearson stated, adding, "We’re one step closer to Washington, D.C." In a statement, Taylor characterized Pearson as "the face of the extreme left in this race — the same activist who has repeatedly put chaos over order."
Their policy differences include Pearson's opposition to President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to address crime in Memphis last year, which Taylor supported as "an investment."
Taylor also sponsored a 2024 law requiring law enforcement agencies to communicate with federal immigration authorities regarding undocumented individuals.
The redistricting has sparked dismay among Memphis voters. For decades, Memphis, the most populous city in Shelby County, formed the core of its own congressional district. Now, the county is divided among three districts that radiate outwards into rural areas.
Lonzo Taylor, a 72-year-old retired postal worker and military veteran, expressed concern that Black voters like himself have had their voices diluted. "We only had one district in the whole state of Tennessee, and you don’t even want that to be fair? It’s just terrible," Taylor said.
"I love this state, but I am very disappointed in our governor." Terrice Thomas, a 45-year-old educator and Democratic voter, found herself switched from District 9 to District 8 and voiced concerns that Memphis constituents could be overlooked. "Is everybody going to have an equal say on what’s happening in their communities or even the people that you’re voting for?"
Thomas questioned. "Are they going to really take into account the different areas and what makes us unique?"
