Trump’s Influence Tested in Tennessee Primaries

President Donald Trump’s influence among Republican voters faced scrutiny in Tennessee as voters participated in the state’s initial primaries under a newly revised congressional map. This map aims to enhance Republican chances of widening their narrow majority in the U.S. House this fall.

The evening brought mixed results for Trump in two significant Republican House primaries in the state. Trump-endorsed state Senator Brent Taylor secured the GOP nomination in the redrawn 9th Congressional District. Meanwhile, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Trump-backed incumbent Representative Andy Ogles in the 5th District.

Taylor’s win paves the way for a November contest against AOC-supported progressive state Rep. Justin Pearson. Pearson, part of the “Tennessee Three,” gained national attention after being expelled following a gun control protest in 2023.

Senator Marsha Blackburn successfully captured the Republican gubernatorial nomination. This victory positions her to potentially become Tennessee’s first female governor, which could lead to an opening for another U.S. Senate appointment.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Tennessee! One year ago, we set out on this journey with one goal: to make Tennessee America’s conservative leader and show the nation what strong, bold, conservative leadership looks like,” Blackburn stated after her victory. “I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen me as your Republican nominee for Governor. Together, we’ve taken a major step toward that goal. I won’t let you down. On to November.”

Hatcher’s win marked a notable setback for Trump. The president had supported Ogles, describing him as a strong businessman and “America First” lawmaker. Despite Trump’s efforts, including participating in a virtual rally, Hatcher, endorsed by outgoing Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, claimed victory.

Ogles, who also had backing from Speaker Mike Johnson, faced substantial opposition. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a clean-energy super PAC funded by California billionaire and Democratic donor Chris Larsen, spent approximately $1 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher, with additional ad spending ahead of the primary.

Ogles accused the group of targeting him over his stance against clean-energy subsidies introduced during the Biden administration. He also mentioned that his association with Trump made him a target.

The district revision left Ogles in unfamiliar territory as Tennessee Republicans significantly altered his 5th District. Although it became more Republican-leaning for the November election, Ogles now faced a new GOP electorate different from the one that previously elected him.

The district redraw wasn’t limited to Ogles’ territory. Tennessee Republicans also transformed the state’s congressional map, including the 9th District. This reconfiguration provided Republicans a potential 9-0 sweep in the GOP delegation.

The change prompted Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to step down from seeking reelection in the Memphis-area district, which was shifted from leaning Democratic to Republican.

Thursday’s primaries have set a nationalized stage for contesting this seat. Taylor, having won the GOP nomination for the 9th district, received Trump’s endorsement. Pearson, winner of the 9th district’s Democratic primary, has support from the “Squad,” including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Taylor aims to deliver Republicans the final seat required for a complete sweep of Tennessee’s congressional delegation. Pearson seeks to maintain a Democratic presence in the Memphis-area district despite the challenging map.

Blackburn, now moving forward after defeating Rep. John Rose in the gubernatorial primary, crossed a significant barrier toward becoming the state’s governor. If she wins in November, she would set a milestone as Tennessee’s first female governor.

Her potential gubernatorial win has implications in Washington. Blackburn was reelected for a six-year Senate term and did not need to vacate her seat to run for governor. However, winning the governorship would necessitate her resignation from the Senate, triggering a new wave of political competition to fill her position.