MAGA-Backed Republican Upset In Tennessee Primary
In a rare occurrence during the midterm primary season, an incumbent Republican who received President Donald Trump’s endorsement has lost.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., has lost his Republican primary, according to NBC News projections, becoming one of several incumbents defeated during this year’s primary elections.
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Ogles after securing support from several prominent establishment Republicans.
Ogles had been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Hatcher is widely viewed as the favorite to win the general election in the heavily Republican congressional district.
During the campaign, Ogles raised less money and spent more than Hatcher, with a political group that supports clean energy initiatives funding much of the advertising.
In an interview with Fox News, Ogles criticized the group’s late advertising campaign.
Although Ogles secured an endorsement from President Trump, Hatcher received support from several prominent Tennessee Republicans, including Gov. Bill Lee, former Gov. Bill Haslam, and former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who served during the first Trump administration.
Ogles’ tenure in Congress was marked by a series of media-generated controversies.
Earlier this year, he drew criticism for comments about Muslims not belonging in the United States.
Later deleted a homophobic social media post after attributing it to a staff member, and called for revoking the citizenship and deporting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is anti-Semitic and not supportive of many U.S. domestic and foreign policies.
He was also the subject of a campaign finance investigation, although no criminal charges were filed.
Ogles told the Associated Press that the Justice Department has since returned the cellphone it seized during the investigation.
Despite overcoming a well-funded primary challenge in a previous election, Ogles was unable to do so this year.
Hatcher, while opposing the incumbent, also embraced President Trump and many of the administration’s policy priorities, seeking to present himself as an alternative without breaking from the president’s agenda.
“Think what President Trump could do if our congressman spent less time talking and more time doing,” says a quote on Hatcher’s website.
Ogles is the ninth incumbent member of the U.S. House to lose a primary election this year—joining six Democrats and three Republicans.
According to Vital Statistics on Congress, that is the highest number of House incumbents defeated in a non-redistricting year since 1970.
The turnover has extended to the Senate as well, where Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas also lost their primary elections.
In addition, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, finished second in his Republican primary before withdrawing from the race and resigning from Congress ahead of the runoff.
Meanwhile, Trump has apparently signaled who he wants to succeed him.
The most obvious choice would be Vice President JD Vance, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name has been mentioned more than a few times, as he has taken on several roles for the president in addition to his duties as secretary of state.
That said, the president told donors at a meeting in the Oval Office two weeks ago, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” according to an anonymous source who spoke to the Washington Post.
While Vance remains the leading figure in many early hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential polls, Rubio has gained ground in several national surveys, early-state polls, and Republican straw polls ahead of a nominating contest that is not expected to begin in earnest until after the 2026 midterm elections.
According to the New York Post, Trump’s remarks should not be interpreted as an indication that he has chosen between Vance and Rubio as a potential successor.
However, the comments have drawn attention because they offer a rare glimpse into Trump’s long-term political thinking
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
