Trump-Backed TN Rep. Andy Ogles Falls in GOP

Although the race was thought-about aggressive, two-term Trump-backed Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-5) was anticipated by many to win the GOP major Thursday night time and head to the final election to combat for a third time period.

That won’t occur, however, as he was defeated roughly 53 to 47 p.c by former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher, a farmer who acquired vital financial backing from renewable vitality pursuits.

🚨 NOW: Rep. Andy Ogles JUST LOST his embattled GOP major in Tennessee’s fifth District, to well-financed challenger Charlie Hatcher — DDHQ

Ogles WILL be missed. He repeatedly called out the Islamic invasion, is aware of America is a Christian nation and filed to impeach rogue judges!… pic.twitter.com/c9rPLUEnfy

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 7, 2026

🚨 NOW: Rep. Andy Ogles JUST LOST his embattled GOP major in Tennessee’s fifth District, to well-financed challenger Charlie Hatcher — DDHQ

Ogles WILL be missed. He repeatedly called out the Islamic invasion, is aware of America is a Christian nation and filed to impeach rogue judges!

This is a district that was redrawn for 2026.

Although controversial to some, Ogles has been a strong voice on immigration points, rogue judges, and the menace of radical Islam. President Trump had reiterated his help for him before the vote:

“Andy will be really enshrined as one of the best congressmen that you’ll ever see. He’s just fantastic,” Trump said. “Andy has always been there when we needed him and when I needed him. He’s been a great help. He’s been a source of inspiration to a lot of people in Congress,” Trump said in a post to Truth Social earlier this yr.

Conservative podcaster Breanna Morello is unhappy to see him go:

Congressman Andy Ogles is a great man.

I’m actually disenchanted he misplaced his major.

Another L in Congress.

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) August 7, 2026

MORE OGLES: Obama-Appointed Judge Faces Impeachment After Outrageous TPS Ruling

GOP Lawmakers Debut Hard-Hitting ASSIMILATION Act — Would Gut Broken Immigration System

The race was at least partly affected by a California billionaire who has a liking for renewable vitality subsidies, which Ogles was usually opposed to.

The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition tremendous PAC had spent roughly $2 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher. The group has raised $6.7 million this yr, making Ogles a sizable portion of their spending this cycle…

A Fox News Digital review of FEC filings found that the tremendous PAC is bankrolled by Chris Larsen, the California-based billionaire chairman of Ripple, a financial technology company that, according to its web site, affords crypto options for companies.

Larsen is also a frequent Democratic donor, having contributed $5,444,975 to help Kamala Harris’s failed presidential marketing campaign.

Ogles:

“When you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they’re making off of government subsidies, and they’re upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them,” Ogles told Fox News Digital in an interview.

The good news for Republicans: Hatcher, a fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer, is supportive of Trump and has praised him in the past. Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, said on X Tuesday that Hatcher ran “to serve TN’s 5th District & secure President Trump’s agenda.”

Charlie Hatcher & I’ve been pals for 25 years.

I used to be a cattleman — he was our veterinarian. For 7 years, he served as my Commissioner of Agriculture.

Now he’s working to serve TN’s fifth District & secure President Trump’s agenda.

Join me in voting @HatcherforTN on Aug 6. pic.twitter.com/mP4qMy0hWT

— Bill Lee (@BillLeeTN) August 4, 2026

Hatcher will transfer on to face off against Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder (D) in November in a contest he’s widely anticipated to win.

Politics: it is not for the faint of coronary heart. 

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