Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles defeated for re-election in Republican primary
Ogles was toppled by State Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher.
An ally of Donald Trump and Mike Johnson, Andy Ogles is affiliated with the hard-right wing of the Republican Party. Among other things, he has at various times lied about his personal and professional background, supported unfounded and debunked conspiracy theories and promoted racist rhetoric. But it seems that Ogles is now soon to be out of a job.
Ogles has lost the 2026 Republican nomination to Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in his re-election bid for the United States House of Representatives. The seat in question is from the Nashville-based 5th District of Tennessee. Ogles was elected to it in 2022 and 2024.
Previously, Ogles had run for the U.S. House via Tennessee’s 4th District in 2002. He finished in third place in the Republican primary. That was followed by a run for the Tennessee Senate in the 23rd District 2006, resulting in a distant sixth-place primary showing. In 2018, Ogles was elected as Mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, defeating Independent incumbent Charlie Norman.
William Andrew Ogles IV graduated from high school in Franklin, Tennessee before attending Western Kentucky University, Columbia State Community College, Middle Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University and Dartmouth College. In 1994, Ogles married his high school sweetheart Monica Williams. The couple have three children. His cousin Brandon Ogles was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
For his part, Hatcher was appointed as Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner by Governor Bill Lee in 2019 after having been the longtime State Veterinarian and held the office until last year. He also held various national veterinary leadership positions, including spending time as President of the United States Animal Health Association and of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials. In the general election, Hatcher is set to meet Democratic Columbia, Tennessee Mayor Chaz Molder.