Tennessee Primaries Reshape U.S. House Districts
In Memphis, Tennessee, former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher emerged victorious over U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in a notable Republican primary. This marked a rare defeat for a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, voters also selected candidates for a newly redrawn U.S. House district, pitting state Sen. Brent Taylor, supported by Trump, against Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson, who gained national attention after being expelled from the Tennessee House for his support of gun control measures.
The primaries served as the first test of a new congressional map enacted by Republican state lawmakers. This map was drawn after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, affecting minority protections. Among Tennessee’s congressional seats, Republicans aim for a complete sweep in the November elections.
A Trump-Endorsed Candidate Faces Defeat
And Ogles, a member of the Freedom Caucus and embroiled in controversies, had the endorsement of Trump, who labeled him a ‘Conservative Warrior.’ Despite this, Hatcher, with backing from Republican Gov. Bill Lee, won the primary by leveraging his agricultural background, emphasizing hard work and service to others.
Ogles had previously secured a rewritten district in 2022, exploiting a division of the Nashville area favoring Republicans. However, the new 5th District, mainly unfamiliar to Ogles, contributed to his defeat. His campaign faced issues, including an FBI investigation into his finances, now concluded, and complaints about his educational claims.
Memphis-Area Lawmakers Head to Showdown
The newly redrawn 9th District, now favoring Republicans, spans rural areas between Memphis and Nashville. This change prompted incumbent Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to retire. As the redistricting process has diluted voter influence, Democratic candidate Justin Pearson criticized the political landscape’s impact on minority rights.
Opposing Pearson, Brent Taylor positioned himself against what he termed as extreme activism, referring to Pearson’s protest activities. Taylor also backed National Guard deployments in Memphis and supported law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities.
Voter Concerns Over Redistricting
Memphis, predominantly Black, formed the base of its congressional district for decades but now extends across three districts. Some residents express concerns about diluted political influence and the potential neglect of Memphis communities by their representatives.
The Political Shifts in Other Districts
The 6th District sees State Rep. Johnny Garrett win a Republican primary, succeeding U.S. Rep. John Rose. The reshaping of districts continues statewide momentum. In a gubernatorial contest, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn defeated Rose, securing the Republican nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Bill Lee.
Sen. Bill Hagerty ran unopposed in the Republican primary and is set to challenge Marquita Bradshaw in the upcoming U.S. Senate race.
This article has been updated to reflect the correct day of the primary election as Thursday.