Trump-backed Congressman Andy Ogles Ousted in Tennessee GOP Primary After Gerrymandered Redistricting
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Charlie Hatcher, former Agriculture Commissioner, unseated Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Ogles in Tennessee’s 5th District GOP primary, following aggressive Republican redistricting that disenfranchised Black voters and upended Memphis representation.
In a striking upset, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles—who had the backing of Donald Trump—in the Republican primary for the state’s newly manipulated 5th Congressional District on Thursday. This rare defeat for a Trump-endorsed candidate comes after Republican lawmakers redrew district lines in May, exploiting a Supreme Court decision that gutted key protections of the Voting Rights Act. As a result, an estimated 82% of voters in the 5th District are new, fundamentally altering the electorate and undermining local representation. Hatcher, who previously served under Governor Bill Lee, leaned heavily on his farming credentials, stating, “The message resonated, and the message was: Work like a farmer, get things done and serve others.”
Ogles, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, was already under scrutiny for questionable campaign-finance disclosures and misrepresenting his academic background. His campaign refused to comment on the loss, highlighting a lack of accountability.
The Republican-led redistricting also targeted the Memphis-based 9th District, previously a majority-Black district represented by Democrat Steve Cohen. The new 9th now stretches 200 miles east from Memphis, engineered to favor Republicans and strip Black voters of their influence—71% of voters are new to the district. Cohen, recognizing the futility of running in a rigged district, announced he will not seek re-election. Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder won the Democratic primary, but Republican candidates will battle in a runoff for a district now stacked against Democrats.
Community members voiced outrage at the blatant disenfranchisement. Retired postal worker Lonzo Taylor, a Black veteran, condemned the changes for diluting Black voices, while educator Terrice Thomas warned that the new map would leave constituents ignored and unrepresented.
Elsewhere, Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn easily won the GOP primary for governor, and Rep. John Rose’s decision to run for governor triggered a contested 6th District primary, ultimately won by State Rep. Johnny Garrett. The results underscore the ongoing Republican assault on fair representation and democracy in Tennessee.