Indianapolis, IN, August 7, 2026 —

NASHVILLE, TN – In a notable upset within Tennessee’s Republican primary elections, U.S. Representative Andy Ogles, who had received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, was defeated by challenger Charlie Hatcher. The race took place in a newly redrawn congressional district, a reconfiguration that has been a focal point of political debate in the state.

The loss for Ogles represents a rare instance of a candidate backed by Donald Trump failing to secure victory in a primary contest. This outcome is particularly significant given Trump’s continued influence within the Republican party.

The primaries also determined the candidates for another reshaped congressional district. In this race, Trump-backed candidate Brent Taylor is slated to face off against Justin Pearson. The outcomes in both districts underscore the impact of recent redistricting efforts undertaken by Republican lawmakers in Tennessee.

These district boundary adjustments have drawn criticism from some observers and voters. The redrawing of electoral maps occurred against the backdrop of what has been described as a weakening of federal Voting Rights Act protections, a development that has raised concerns about the fairness and representativeness of the electoral process in the state.

Further details regarding the vote counts for the specific races and the margins of victory were not immediately available. The impact of the district redrawing on voter engagement and future election outcomes remains a subject of observation.


Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.wrtv.com, see more information here.

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