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Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., was defeated in a main problem on Thursday night by Republican challenger Charlie Hatcher, a farmer and the state’s former commissioner of agriculture.
Though the first was removed from a top-watched contest coming into the 2026 primaries, it served as a microcosm of bigger forces at play within the Republican Social gathering. From a break in endorsements between President Donald Trump and Tennessee’s Republican Governor Invoice Lee to tens of millions being pumped into the district over environmental coverage, the race attracted consideration nicely past its borders.
The Spend money on Tomorrow Coalition tremendous PAC had spent roughly $2 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher. The group has raised $6.7 million this 12 months, making Ogles a large portion of their spending this cycle.
TOP TRUMP ALLY WARNS SUPER PAC BANKROLLED BY DEM BILLIONAIRE IS MEDDLING IN GOP PRIMARY
Charlie Hatcher, Republican candidate for Congress, left, pictured subsequent to incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., proper. (USA TODAY Community by way of Reuters Join; Brett Carlsen/Getty Photographs)
The best way that Ogles sees it, it’s an try to point out Republicans what occurs when lawmakers try and claw again authorities funding for renewable vitality sources.
Like many different Republicans, Ogles has known as to cut back renewable vitality investments made below the Biden Administration.
“When you’ve got a gaggle spending roughly $2 million in a Republican main, that tells you the way a lot cash they’re making off of presidency subsidies, and so they’re upset that the federal government welfare has been taken away from them,” Ogles advised Fox Information Digital in an interview.
A Fox Information Digital assessment of FEC filings found that the tremendous PAC is bankrolled by Chris Larsen, the California-based billionaire chairman of Ripple, a monetary know-how firm that, in keeping with its web site, gives crypto options for companies.
Larsen can be a frequent Democratic donor, having contributed $5,444,975 to help Kamala Harris’s failed presidential marketing campaign.
Extra than simply his opposition to government-backed renewable vitality initiatives, Ogles thinks it’s his proximity to Trump that has made him a goal.
“It is as a result of I am near the president. It’s as a result of I’m outspoken. And fairly frankly, it’s as a result of I communicate plainly on these points,” Ogles mentioned.
GOP GOVERNOR ENDORSES CANDIDATE CHALLENGING TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSMAN IN REPUBLICAN US HOUSE PRIMARY
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) addresses the New York Younger Republican Membership’s 113th Annual Gala at Cipriani Wall Road on December 13, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Adam Grey/Getty Photographs)
For his personal half, Hatcher, a fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer, has pitched himself as somebody unencumbered by the political scene and ensnaring pursuits.
“I feel there’s one thing lacking in Washington. There’s an absence of farmer widespread sense. There’s an absence of labor ethic. One among my strengths is problem-solving, searching for options, searching for collaborations and supporting the Trump Administration and Speaker Johnson on their agenda,” Hatcher mentioned in a marketing campaign video.
Notably, Tennessee’s Republican governor put his weight behind Hatcher late on Tuesday night, citing a private relationship between them.
“He served as my commissioner of agriculture; I do know Charlie. I do know his conservative values and the way a lot he loves our nation. Charlie has stood with President Trump since day one,” Lee mentioned in a video.
Trump, who has endorsed Ogles, reaffirmed his help for the conservative firebrand forward of the first.
“Andy will likely be actually enshrined as probably the greatest congressmen that you simply’ll ever see. He’s simply implausible,” Trump mentioned. “Andy has all the time been there after we wanted him and after I wanted him. He’s been a fantastic assist. He’s been a supply of inspiration to lots of people in Congress,” Trump mentioned in a put up to Fact Social earlier this 12 months.
TENNESSEE PASSES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP LIKELY TO FLIP FINAL DEM SEAT AS PROTESTS ERUPT INSIDE CAPITOL
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., walks via the U.S. Capitol on February 03, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Heather Diehl/Getty Photographs)
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Having captured the Republican nomination, Hatcher now advances to a common election he’s closely favored to win on Nov. 3. He gained re-election in 2024 in a 56.9% to 39.5% victory over Maryam Abolfazli.
