{"id":30822,"date":"2026-08-07T07:24:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30822"},"modified":"2026-08-07T07:24:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:24:03","slug":"rep-andy-ogles-loses-tennessee-as-million-dollar-campaign-floods-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30822","title":{"rendered":"Rep Andy Ogles loses Tennessee as million-dollar campaign floods race"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., was defeated in a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151919\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/state-and-local-primaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">primary challenge<\/a> on Thursday evening by Republican challenger Charlie Hatcher, a farmer and the state&#8217;s former commissioner of agriculture.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Although the primary was far from a top-watched contest coming into the 2026 primaries, it served as a microcosm of larger forces at play in the Republican Party. From a break in endorsements between President Donald Trump and Tennessee\u2019s<a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151920\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/gop-governor-endorses-candidate-challenging-trump-backed-congressman-republican-us-house-primary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Republican Governor<\/a> Bill Lee to millions being pumped into the district over environmental policy, the race attracted attention well beyond its borders.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition super PAC had spent roughly $2 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher. The group has raised $6.7 million this year, making Ogles a sizable portion of their spending this cycle.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151921\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/top-trump-ally-warns-super-pac-bankrolled-dem-billionaire-meddling-gop-primary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TOP TRUMP ALLY WARNS SUPER PAC BANKROLLED BY DEM BILLIONAIRE IS MEDDLING IN GOP PRIMARY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Charlie Hatcher and Andy Ogles\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Charlie Hatcher, Republican candidate for Congress, left, pictured next to incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., right.<\/span> <span>(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect; Brett Carlsen\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The way that Ogles sees it, it\u2019s an attempt to show Republicans what happens when lawmakers attempt to claw back government funding for renewable energy sources.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Like many other Republicans, Ogles has called to scale back renewable energy investments made under the Biden Administration.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;When you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they&#8217;re making off of government subsidies, and they&#8217;re upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them,&#8221; Ogles told Fox News Digital in an interview.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A Fox News Digital review of FEC filings discovered that the super PAC is bankrolled by Chris Larsen, the California-based billionaire chairman of Ripple, a financial technology company that, according to its website, offers crypto solutions for businesses.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Larsen is also a frequent Democratic donor, having contributed $5,444,975 to support <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151922\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kamala Harris&#8217;s<\/a> failed presidential campaign.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">More than just his opposition to government-backed renewable energy initiatives, Ogles thinks it\u2019s his <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151923\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/trumps-reindustrialization-agenda-faces-biggest-hurdle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">proximity to Trump<\/a> that has made him a target.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It&#8217;s because I&#8217;m close to the president. It is because I am outspoken. And quite frankly, it is because I speak plainly on these issues,&#8221; Ogles said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151924\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/gop-governor-endorses-candidate-challenging-trump-backed-congressman-republican-us-house-primary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GOP GOVERNOR ENDORSES CANDIDATE CHALLENGING TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSMAN IN REPUBLICAN US HOUSE PRIMARY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/343\/192\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/686\/384\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/672\/378\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1344\/756\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/931\/523\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1862\/1046\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/720\/405\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1440\/810\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1200\/675\/andy-ogles-december-2025.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Rep. Andy Ogles\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) addresses the New York Young Republican Club&#8217;s 113th Annual Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on December 13, 2025 in New York City.<\/span> <span>(Adam Gray\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">For his own part, Hatcher, a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151925\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/tennessee-passes-new-congressional-map-likely-flip-final-dem-seat-protests-erupt-inside-capitol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer<\/a>, has pitched himself as someone unencumbered by the political scene and ensnaring interests.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I think there\u2019s something missing in Washington. There\u2019s a lack of farmer common sense. There\u2019s a lack of work ethic. One of my strengths is problem-solving, looking for solutions, looking for collaborations and supporting the Trump Administration and Speaker Johnson on their agenda,&#8221; Hatcher said <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151926\" href=\"https:\/\/charliehatcher.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in a campaign video.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Notably, Tennessee\u2019s Republican governor put his weight behind Hatcher late on Tuesday evening, citing a personal relationship between them.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;He served as my commissioner of agriculture; I know Charlie. I know his conservative values and how much he loves our country. Charlie has stood with President Trump since day one,&#8221; Lee said <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BillLeeTN\/status\/2084790913193087029?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">in a video.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Trump, who has <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151928\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-backed-republican-advances-face-vulnerable-democrat-key-house-battleground\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">endorsed Ogles<\/a>, reaffirmed his support for the conservative firebrand ahead of the primary.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Andy will be really enshrined as one of the best congressmen that you\u2019ll ever see. He\u2019s just fantastic,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Andy has always been there when we needed him and when I needed him. He\u2019s been a great help. He\u2019s been a source of inspiration to a lot of people in Congress,&#8221; Trump said in a post to Truth Social earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151929\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/tennessee-passes-new-congressional-map-likely-flip-final-dem-seat-protests-erupt-inside-capitol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TENNESSEE PASSES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP LIKELY TO FLIP FINAL DEM SEAT AS PROTESTS ERUPT INSIDE CAPITOL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/andy-ogles-feb-2026.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Rep. Andy Ogles\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., walks through the U.S. Capitol on February 03, 2026 in Washington, D.C.<\/span> <span>(Heather Diehl\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Having captured the Republican nomination, Hatcher now advances to a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_151931\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">general election<\/a> he\u2019s heavily favored to win on Nov. 3. He won re-election in 2024 in a 56.9% to 39.5% victory over Maryam Abolfazli.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., was defeated in a primary challenge on Thursday evening by Republican challenger Charlie Hatcher, a farmer and the state&#8217;s former commissioner of agriculture. Although the primary was far from a top-watched contest coming into the 2026 primaries, it served as a microcosm of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/charlie-hatcher-and-andy-ogles.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}