Tennessee voters ousted Rep. Andy Ogles in Thursday’s primary, despite his endorsement by President Donald Trump.
Ogles, elected in 2022, had struggled to raise money after a campaign finance fraud investigation and inflammatory social media posts about Islam and LGBT people.
Ogles is the second House Republican to lose renomination in a redrawn seat this year, after Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, and the third to be successfully primaried this year; Ogles’ opponent, Charlie Hatcher, got a $2 million lift from the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, which has targeted Republicans who unwound green energy credits.
“We will continue to punish members of either party who want to play politics with American jobs, energy security, and utility prices,” said the group’s chair, Tom Matzzie, in a statement.
Also Tuesday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the GOP nomination to succeed Gov. Bill Lee, and Democrats nominated state Rep. Justin Pearson in a seat Republicans redrew to replace a deep-blue seat in Memphis.