Former state agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeats Rep. Andy Ogles in Tennessee GOP primary
Incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles lost the Republican primary for Tennessee's deep-red district to former state agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher, amid a wave of incumbent defeats in this election cycle.
Charlie Hatcher, a former Tennessee agriculture commissioner, won the Republican primary for the state's 5th congressional district, defeating incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles, according to projected results. Hatcher secured endorsements from Governor Bill Lee, former Governor Bill Haslam and former Trump Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, while Ogles had the backing of President Donald Trump.
The campaign was marked by a significant advertising push from a pro-clean-energy group that outspent Ogles on television, a factor Ogles criticized in a recent interview. Hatcher's campaign material suggested that the district would benefit if the congressman focused more on legislative work than public statements.
Ogles, who has faced multiple controversies and a federal investigation into campaign finances, said the Justice Department returned his seized cellphone. He remains the ninth member of the House to lose a primary this year, the highest number since 1970 in a non-redistricting cycle.
Two Republican senators also fell in their primaries, and another House member withdrew after finishing second, highlighting a broader trend of incumbent turnover within the party.