President Donald Trumps clout with Republican voters was put to the test in Tennessee Thursday, as voters headed to the polls for the states first primaries under a newly redrawn congressional map designed to bolster Republicans chances of expanding their thin majority in the U.S. House this fall.
The night delivered a split verdict for Trump in two of the states closely watched Trump-backed state Sen. Brent Taylor captured the GOP nomination in the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, while former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher toppled Trump-endorsed incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles in the 5th District.Â
Taylors victory sets up a November showdown against AOC-backed progressive state Rep. Justin Pearson, one of the so-called “Tennessee Three” lawmakers who gained national attention after he was expelled following a gun control protest in 2023.
Elsewhere, Sen. Marsha Blackburn captured the Republican gubernatorial nomination, putting her on course to potentially become Tennessees first female governor and eventually create an opening for another U.S. Senate appointment.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Tennessee! One year ago, we set out on this journey with one goal: to make Tennessee America’s conservative leader and show the nation what strong, bold, conservative leadership looks like,” Blackburn said following her win Thursday night. “I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen me as your Republican nominee for Governor. Together, we’ve taken a major step toward that goal. I won’t let you down. On to November.”
Ogles defeat was a glaring setback for Trump on the night. The president threw his support behind the conservative House Freedom Caucus member and stepped in as the race tightened, praising Ogles as a strong businessman and America First lawmaker during a virtual tele-rally last month. Hatcher, handed the two-term incumbent an upset defeat despite Trumps intervention.
Ogles, backed by Speaker Mike Johnson in addition to Trump, faced a high-dollar outside effort to knock him out of the race. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a clean-energy super PAC largely bankrolled by California crypto billionaire and major Democratic donor Chris Larsen, spent roughly $1 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher before purchasing another $700,000 in advertising ahead of the primary, according to a Fox News Digital review of federal filings.Â
Ogles accused the group of trying to punish him for opposing Biden-era clean-energy subsidies and suggested his close ties to Trump had also put a target on his back.
The Trump-backed incumbent was also running on unfamiliar terrain after Tennessee Republicans dramatically redrew his 5th District. While the change made the district significantly more Republican for November, it left Ogles to face a significantly new GOP electorate than what had elected him in the past.
Ogles district was not the only one transformed. Tennessee Republicans redrew the states congressional lines this spring, breaking apart the Democratic-controlled 9th District and giving Republicans a chance to turn Tennessees current 8-1 GOP delegation into a 9-0 sweep.
The effort prompt
