Rep. Andy Ogles has lost his Republican primary despite Donald Trump’s endorsement. The outcome is a significant blow to the Tennessee congressman.
Ogles, who once introduced a proposal to clear the way for Trump to seek a third term, lost the GOP nomination for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher on Thursday, August 6, according to The Associated Press.
Hatcher had the backing of several prominent Tennessee Republicans, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, former Gov. Bill Haslam and former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp.
Trump had strongly endorsed Ogles ahead of the primary, calling him a “Conservative Warrior” on Election Day. The president’s support, however, was not enough to overcome Hatcher’s support within the state’s Republican establishment.
As a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, Ogles first won his House seat in 2022 after Republicans redrew Tennessee’s congressional map. His district was reshaped again this year, creating a significantly different electorate ahead of the primary.
The changes were made after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.
The congressman, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, had built a reputation as a staunch Trump supporter.
In January 2025, shortly after Trump returned to the White House for a second term, Ogles introduced a House joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow a president to serve three terms.
Ogles issued a statement on his website that said, “President Trump’s decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years. He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”
He then proposed “an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms.”
“This amendment would allow President Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs,” Ogles added.
He also criticized the Biden administration and claimed that Trump should be given “every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course.” Ogles believed that the president “put the United States back on the path to strength and prosperity,” only a few days after taking office.
He also praised Trump for his efforts to end birthright citizenship: “He issued an order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal aliens. Placing American safety as his top priority.”
