The short version
- Former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for a reshaped district, marking a rare rejection of a candidate endorsed by President Trump.
- The new maps, drawn after weakened Voting Rights Act protections, created a competitive general election matchup between state Sen. Brent Taylor and state Rep. Justin Pearson in a reconfigured Memphis-area district.
- These results serve as the first test of Tennessee's revised congressional boundaries, which significantly altered voter demographics in both the 5th and 9th districts ahead of the midterm elections.
Tennessee voters delivered a notable rebuke to presidential influence on Thursday by electing former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher over incumbent U.S. Representative Andy Ogles in a Republican primary. The victory for Hatcher, who served under Governor Bill Lee, stands out as an uncommon instance where a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump failed to secure the nomination. This outcome occurs against the backdrop of a significantly altered political landscape in the state, driven by new congressional maps that were finalized earlier this year.
The redistricting process was accelerated after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened federal protections under the Voting Rights Act for minority communities. Republican lawmakers in Tennessee moved quickly to redraw boundaries in May, a move supported by Trump as part of a broader strategy to maintain a narrow majority in the House during the upcoming midterm elections. The new maps have fundamentally changed the composition of several districts, introducing fresh dynamics into races that were previously settled or predictable.
In the 5th Congressional District, the changes are particularly stark. The district now stretches from central Tennessee through the northwest corner of the state and down along the Mississippi River to Memphis. According to estimates, approximately 82 percent of the voters in this new configuration are new to the district. Ogles, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, had previously benefited from redistricting efforts that helped him win a formerly Democratic seat in 2022. However, his tenure has been marked by controversies, including questions about his campaign finances and educational background.
Ogles faced scrutiny after the FBI seized his cellphone in 2024 during an investigation into campaign finance reporting. Although the Justice Department recently agreed to return the device, signaling the end of that specific probe, the incident contributed to a narrative of instability around his candidacy. Additionally, Ogles had previously misrepresented his degree from Middle Tennessee State University, later admitting he held a liberal studies degree rather than the international relations degree he had claimed. Despite these issues, Trump praised Ogles as a 'Conservative Warrior' on Election Day last year.
Hatcher campaigned by emphasizing his agricultural roots and framing his message around hard work and service. He positioned himself as a pro-Trump alternative who could deliver results, a strategy that appears to have resonated with primary voters in the reshaped district. On the Democratic side of the 5th District, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder secured the nomination, setting up a general election contest that will test the viability of the new map's partisan leanings.
Meanwhile, the 9th Congressional District has undergone its own dramatic transformation. Previously a compact, majority-Black district represented by Democrat Steve Cohen, it has been cracked apart and reconfigured to stretch roughly 200 miles east from Memphis across rural areas toward Nashville. The new district now tilts Republican, with about 71 percent of its voters being new to the area. Cohen announced he would not seek reelection following these changes, leaving a vacuum that has drawn high-profile candidates.
The general election in the 9th District will feature a clash between state Senator Brent Taylor and state Representative Justin Pearson. Taylor, who received Trump's endorsement, has built his platform on law and order issues, including support for the deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis last year and sponsorship of legislation requiring local police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He has characterized Pearson as an extreme activist who prioritizes chaos over stability.
Pearson gained national attention after being expelled from the Tennessee House for protesting gun control measures, only to be reelected by voters shortly thereafter. He framed the redistricting efforts as a direct attack on voting rights, noting that the changes occurred exactly 61 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Despite describing the political dilution of minority rights as a degradation of democracy, Pearson expressed optimism about his campaign's trajectory toward Washington.
These primary results provide the first real-world test of Tennessee's new congressional map. With Republicans already holding eight of the state's nine seats, the party is aiming for a clean sweep in November. However, the defeat of a Trump-backed incumbent and the emergence of a competitive race in the 9th District suggest that the new boundaries may not guarantee easy victories. The outcomes will offer critical insights into how voters respond to redistricting efforts made possible by recent judicial shifts.
As the general election approaches, both parties are adjusting their strategies to account for the altered demographics and political realities of these districts. The 5th District race highlights the potential vulnerabilities of incumbents even with presidential support, while the 9th District contest underscores the ongoing tensions over voting rights and representation. The results in November will likely have implications beyond Tennessee, offering a preview of how similar redistricting efforts might play out in other states.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗Tennessee voters oust Trump-backed congressman, set fall matchup for redrawn Memphis-area House seat
