In a rare occurrence during the midterm primary season, an incumbent Republican who received President Donald Trump’s endorsement has lost.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., has lost his Republican primary, according to NBC News projections, becoming one of several incumbents defeated during this year’s primary elections.
Advertisement
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Ogles after securing support from several prominent establishment Republicans.
Ogles had been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Hatcher is widely viewed as the favorite to win the general election in the heavily Republican congressional district.
Advertisement
During the campaign, Ogles raised less money and spent more than Hatcher, with a political group that supports clean energy initiatives funding much of the advertising.
In an interview with Fox News, Ogles criticized the group’s late advertising campaign.
Advertisement
Although Ogles secured an endorsement from President Trump, Hatcher received support from several prominent Tennessee Republicans, including Gov. Bill Lee, former Gov. Bill Haslam, and former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who served during the first Trump administration.
Ogles’ tenure in Congress was marked by a series of media-generated controversies.
Earlier this year, he drew criticism for comments about Muslims not belonging in the United States.
Later deleted a homophobic social media post after attributing it to a staff member, and called for revoking the citizenship and deporting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is anti-Semitic and not supportive of many U.S. domestic and foreign policies.
Rep. Andy Ogles, who sponsored Remigration legislation and supported harsh immigration policy, has been upset by establishment Republicans backing a more moderate primary candidate, Charlie Hacker.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/1Dd5XporRc
— AF Post (@AFpost) August 7, 2026
He was also the subject of a campaign finance investigation, although no criminal charges were filed.
Ogles told the Associated Press that the Justice Department has since returned the cellphone it seized during the investigation.
Despite overcoming a well-funded primary challenge in a previous election, Ogles was unable to do so this year.
Hatcher, while opposing the incumbent, also embraced President Trump and many of the administration’s policy priorities, seeking to present himself as an alternative without breaking from the president’s agenda.
Advertisement
“Think what President Trump could do if our congressman spent less time talking and more time doing,” says a quote on Hatcher’s website.
Ogles is the ninth incumbent member of the U.S. House to lose a primary election this year—joining six Democrats and three Republicans.
According to Vital Statistics on Congress, that is the highest number of House incumbents defeated in a non-redistricting year since 1970.
The turnover has extended to the Senate as well, where Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas also lost their primary elections.
In addition, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, finished second in his Republican primary before withdrawing from the race and resigning from Congress ahead of the runoff.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Trump has apparently signaled who he wants to succeed him.
The most obvious choice would be Vice President JD Vance, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name has been mentioned more than a few times, as he has taken on several roles for the president in addition to his duties as secretary of state.
That said, the president told donors at a meeting in the Oval Office two weeks ago, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” according to an anonymous source who spoke to the Washington Post.
WaPo: Trump privately told donors he’s picking JD Vance as the MAGA heir going into 2028
Vance impressed Trump lately by:
• Negotiating the June Iran ceasefire
• Leading a task force cracking down on federal fraud
• Handling a tough media circuit on his June book tour pic.twitter.com/VmAZqhDfMW— Martin Walsh (@martinwalsh__) August 6, 2026
Advertisement
While Vance remains the leading figure in many early hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential polls, Rubio has gained ground in several national surveys, early-state polls, and Republican straw polls ahead of a nominating contest that is not expected to begin in earnest until after the 2026 midterm elections.
According to the New York Post, Trump’s remarks should not be interpreted as an indication that he has chosen between Vance and Rubio as a potential successor.
However, the comments have drawn attention because they offer a rare glimpse into Trump’s long-term political thinking.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
