Trump-backed incumbent ousted in House primary as GOP redistricting push set to reshape Tennessee

Tennessee Republican Primaries Show Mixed Outcomes for Endorsed Candidates Under New Congressional Map

President Donald Trump’s endorsements faced tests in Tennessee’s August 7 primaries, the first held under a congressional map redrawn by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature. The new lines were drawn to increase the number of districts favoring Republican candidates in the fall general election. Results split between two contested Republican House primaries. State Sen. Brent Taylor won the nomination in the redrawn 9th Congressional District. Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated two-term incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles in the 5th District.

Taylor’s win sets up a November contest against state Rep. Justin Pearson, who won the Democratic nomination in the 9th District. Pearson gained attention in 2023 as one of three Democratic lawmakers temporarily expelled from the Tennessee House after a gun-control protest on the chamber floor. Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination for governor, positioning her to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee. Blackburn stated after her victory that the goal was to position Tennessee as a leading conservative state and that she would not let supporters down if elected.

Ogles’ loss marked a defeat for Trump, who endorsed the incumbent and participated in a virtual event supporting him in the final weeks. Hatcher, backed by Lee, prevailed despite the presidential endorsement. Ogles also received support from House Speaker Mike Johnson. Outside spending played a role in the 5th District race. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a super PAC funded primarily by California cryptocurrency investor Chris Larsen, spent approximately $1 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher, followed by an additional $700,000 in advertising, according to federal campaign filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. Ogles stated that the spending was intended to penalize his opposition to certain federal clean-energy subsidies.

The 5th District boundaries changed substantially under the new map. Tennessee Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers of the legislature, approved the redistricting plan earlier this year. The revisions shifted the district toward a stronger Republican tilt for the general election while placing Ogles before a different set of primary voters than those who had supported him previously. The same redistricting process altered the 9th District, which had been held by Democrats. Longtime Rep. Steve Cohen opted not to seek reelection there after the lines were adjusted.

Taylor, who received Trump’s endorsement, will face Pearson in November. Pearson received support from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the primary. The contest will determine whether Republicans achieve a 9-0 delegation or whether Democrats retain one seat in the Memphis area. Blackburn defeated Rep. John Rose in the gubernatorial primary. Her potential election as governor would create a Senate vacancy, since she was reelected to a six-year Senate term in 2024 without resigning her seat to run for governor. That vacancy would trigger an appointment process under Tennessee law.

The redistricting plan passed the Republican-led legislature on party-line votes after public hearings that included protests inside the Capitol. The map converted the previous 8-1 Republican advantage into a configuration that analysts described as likely to produce nine Republican-leaning districts. No Democratic candidate filed in several of the new districts. Turnout in the August primaries was consistent with recent off-year voting patterns in the state, with higher participation in urban counties affected by the boundary changes.

Ogles had represented the 5th District since 2022 after winning a crowded Republican primary that year. Hatcher, who previously served as agriculture commissioner, emphasized his executive experience in state government during the campaign. Taylor, a state senator from the Memphis suburbs, focused on economic issues and alignment with Trump administration priorities. Pearson campaigned on expanding access to health care and education funding in the Memphis area.

Blackburn’s gubernatorial bid marks the first time a woman has won a major-party nomination for governor in Tennessee. If successful in November, she would be the state’s first female chief executive. The Senate appointment that would follow her departure from Washington would be made by the governor who succeeds Lee if Blackburn wins, adding another layer to the state’s 2026 political calendar.

Additional races on the ballot included state legislative contests and local offices, though those drew less national attention than the congressional and gubernatorial primaries. The general election in November will feature the full congressional map for the first time, along with the open governor’s race and other statewide positions.