Tennessee voters oust Trump-backed congressman, set fall matchup for redrawn Memphis-area House seat

In a notable primary upset, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. This rare rejection of a Trump-backed figure occurred in a significantly reshaped congressional district.

Meanwhile, Tennessee voters also chose state Sen. Brent Taylor to face Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson in another newly configured U.S. House district. Pearson gained national attention after being expelled from the Tennessee House for protesting gun control measures, only to be reelected by his constituents.

These primaries served as the first electoral test for a new U.S. House map. Republican state lawmakers redrew the districts in May, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. Trump had publicly supported the redistricting as part of a national strategy to maintain the Republican Party's slim House majority.

Ogles, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, had faced scrutiny over campaign finances and his resume. Despite Trump's endorsement and praise on Election Day, he lost to Hatcher, who was backed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Hatcher, who served under Lee for seven years, campaigned on a pro-Trump platform while highlighting his farming background. "The message resonated, and the message was: Work like a farmer, get things done and serve others," Hatcher told the Associated Press after his victory. Ogles' campaign declined to comment.

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The message resonated, and the message was: Work like a farmer, get things done and serve others.