Tennessee Governor Bill Lee threw his support behind Charlie Hatcher in the Republican primary for the state's 5th Congressional District, a direct challenge to President Donald Trump's endorsement of incumbent Representative Andy Ogles.
In a video shared on Hatcher's Facebook page Tuesday, Lee cited a long personal and professional relationship with the challenger. "Charlie Hatcher and I have been friends for 25 years," Lee said. "I'm a cattleman, he was our veterinarian."
Hatcher, who served as Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture under Lee from 2019 until last year, has positioned himself as a staunch ally of the former president. Lee noted that Hatcher "has stood with President Trump since day one."
The endorsement arrives just days before the primary election, with early voting already concluded and Thursday as the final day to cast ballots. Lee, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection as governor this fall, is making a calculated move in a race that has drawn national attention.
Hatcher expressed gratitude for the endorsement, saying he was "deeply honored" to have Lee's backing. He has pledged to advance Trump's legislative agenda if elected to Congress, but the president has thrown his weight behind Ogles, who is vying for a third term representing the Middle Tennessee district.
Trump held a tele-rally for Ogles on July 28, urging supporters to vote for him. "I'm asking all of you to get out and vote for Andy Ogles. He's been a friend of mine. He's been a terrific guy," Trump said.
Ogles has been a reliable vote for Trump's priorities, aligning with him 100 percent of the time last year, according to VoteHub, matching the majority of House Republicans. However, his campaign has been marred by controversy. In March, Ogles made remarks suggesting Muslims "don't belong in American society," which he later doubled down on. In June, he posted on social media that homosexuality "has no place in America," drawing bipartisan backlash.
Ogles deleted the latter post after criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, blaming a staffer for the message. Representative Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, called the post "absolutely idiotic."
The winner of the GOP primary will be heavily favored in the general election, as the district leans solidly Republican. Chaz Molder, the Democratic mayor of Columbia, is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Decision Desk HQ gives Republicans a 95 percent chance of retaining the seat, and Ogles has won his previous races by double-digit margins.
This primary is part of a broader pattern of intra-party clashes across the country, as seen in Kansas' Democratic gubernatorial primary and Missouri's 1st District rematch. The outcome in Tennessee could signal the strength of Trump's influence in deeply conservative districts.
