Trump-backed Republican congressman loses primary in Tennessee
Andy Ogles is the second person backed by the US president to lose this week but there were also some wins in Trump's corner.
In Tennessee, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles, who had the backing of former President Trump, has lost his primary election for the House, marking the second defeat this week for a candidate endorsed by Trump.
Charlie Hatcher, a former Tennessee agricultural commissioner, triumphed over the two-term congressman in Thursday's Republican primary for the state's 5th congressional district. Just hours before the polls closed, Donald Trump had publicly declared his "complete and total endorsement for re-election" of Ogles.
This loss follows the defeat of another Trump-supported Republican candidate in Michigan on Wednesday, although several other endorsed candidates did secure victories. The winners of these primaries will advance to compete in November's midterm elections.
All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs in the upcoming elections. Hatcher is anticipated to face Columbia mayor Chaz Molder, who won the Democratic primary, in November.
Ogles, who has represented Tennessee's 5th district since 2023, has been involved in several controversies during his tenure in Congress. He was investigated for alleged campaign finance violations but was not charged, and he has denied any wrongdoing. He also faced criticism for anti-Muslim remarks, including posts on X stating that "Muslims don't belong in American society" and "America and Islam are incompatible."
In his most recent endorsement of Ogles via a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump praised him, saying, "Congressman Andy Ogles is doing a fantastic job," and adding, "Andy is a Conservative Warrior who has strong support from his Community."
Elsewhere in Tennessee, Trump-backed Amir Hassan finished significantly behind Tom Smith, who had suspended his campaign in July and endorsed a different candidate.
Despite these setbacks, Trump's endorsement remains highly sought after in Republican primaries, and he saw a series of wins this week. John James secured Michigan's Republican nomination for governor, despite being significantly outspent by his wealthy opponent. Trump not only voiced support for James but also appeared with him on stage last week. In Kansas, Republicans chose Trump's preferred candidate for governor, and in a Washington state House race, Amanda McKinney, also endorsed by the former president, came in first.
This primary season has seen an unusually high number of incumbents fail to secure their party's renomination. According to Vital Statistics on Congress, six Democrats and three Republicans have been defeated, which is the highest number in a non-redistricting election cycle since 1970.