Dairy farmer Charlie Hatcher defeats Trump-endorsed candidate in The Volunteer State’s newly redrawn 5th District
Tennessee
Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s victory margin was narrower than early projections when she entered the Governor’s race, but she still secured a double‑digit win and the Republican nomination, effectively guaranteeing her path to the Governor’s Mansion in November.
Sen. Blackburn finished with a 43-33-24% victory margin over U.S. Rep. John Rose (R‑Cookeville) and state Rep. Monty Fritts (R‑Kingston). Both Rose and Fritts began with single‑digit support but steadily improved throughout the long primary cycle.
Ms. Blackburn performed strongly statewide, particularly in her western Tennessee base, while Rep. Rose dominated in his home congressional district. Rep. Fritts carried five counties and posted a credible finish.
Because Tennessee is not a runoff state, Ms. Blackburn won the gubernatorial nomination with a plurality. She will face Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, who came close to the 70% mark in the Democratic primary.
A presumed Blackburn victory in November would give her the opportunity of appointing her own successor in the U.S. Senate. Speculation will now intensify over whom she might choose in January. Assuming the appointee seeks election, a special vote would occur concurrently with the 2028 regular election. The Blackburn seat is next in-cycle for a six-year term in 2030.
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R) was unopposed for renomination and enters the general election as a prohibitive favorite against Democratic nominee Marquita Bradshaw, who previously ran for the Senate in 2020 and 2024.
The major development in the House delegation came in the 5th District, where Rep. Andy Ogles (R‑Columbia) lost his renomination bid to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher.
The newly drawn 5th District, now stretching to Arkansas and including downtown Memphis, is dramatically different from the central Tennessee anchored district Ogles first won in 2022. Under the new district boundaries, Hatcher’s 53-47% victory positions him as a strong favorite over Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, the Democratic nominee.
Rep. Ogles becomes the ninth House incumbent to lose renomination in 2026 and the third Republican. Michigan Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar (D‑Detroit) also lost his primary on Tuesday night.
In Rep. Rose’s open and safely Republican 6th District, state Rep. Johnny Garrett (R‑Goodlettsville) defeated former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary and Iraq/Afghanistan War veteran Jon Henry. Mr. Hilleary, attempting a comeback after two decades off the ballot – he served four House terms and was the GOP nominee for Governor in 2002 and for the Senate in 2006 – finished second, twelve points behind Garrett.
In the newly created 9th District, state Sen. Brent Taylor (R‑Eads), backed with endorsements from President Trump and Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty, won the Republican nomination over state Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) and two additional candidates. Sen. Taylor will be a heavy favorite against the new Democratic nominee, state Rep. Justin Pearson (D‑Memphis), a prominent gun‑control advocate.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the next state to hold its nomination election in what is a busy primary week. The most notable contest tomorrow is in the 1st Congressional District, where veteran Rep. Ed Case (D‑Kaneohe) faces a relatively competitive Democratic primary against state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D‑Honolulu).
A Blueprint Polling survey conducted for the Keohokalole campaign (released 8/6; July 7-8; 481 likely HI‑1 Democratic primary voters) shows the Congressman leading 33-25%, with three minor Democratic candidates also on the ballot.
The crowded field gives Rep. Case an additional advantage under Hawaii’s plurality primary system. He is again expected to win renomination and then re‑election in November, which would secure him a seventh non‑consecutive US House term.
