Rep. Andy Ogles loses Tennessees Republican primary after dramatic district reshape
Rep.Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a conservative firebrand endorsed by President Trump, came up short Thursday in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, marking the second loss of the week for a candidate backed by the commander-in-chief.
A flood of outside spending in the expansive and dramatically reshaped district, as well as an eleventh-hour endorsement by the governor, made Ogle’s race against former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher tougher than expected for the incumbent. Ogles was down to Hatcher by a 46.8% to 53.2% vote when the Asssociated Press called the race.Tennessee radically redrew the boundaries of Ogles’ 5th District – leaving just 17% of its previous iteration in place – after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act. The new map should make it easier for Republicans to keep the seat in November, but forced Ogles, who is no stranger to controversy, to convince new voters ahead of the primary. The renewable energy industry hammered Ogles via $2 million in attack ads funded by the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition super PAC, which sought to make an example out of the congressman for his anti-green energy positions.“We’re just getting started,” Tom Matzzie, the chairman of the super PAC, told Politico ahead of the election.
“If Ogles manages to survive tonight we will stick on him through the general while taking this fight on the road to other races across the country.Ogles was also outraised by Hatcher by more than $100,000.The former agriculture commissioner also received Tennessee GOP Gov.
Bill Lee’s endorsement on Wednesday. “Charlie has stood with President Trump since Day 1,” Lee said in a video posted on X, well after early voting had begun in the district. On the campaign trail, Ogles bemoaned “being targeted by left-wing liberals from California because I am one of President Trump’s closest allies.”“They want to stop Trump-endorsed MAGA ...