U.S. House member Andy Ogles, who had Trump’s backing, lost Thursday’s Republican primary in Tennessee to Charlie Hatcher. Ogles received 46.8% of the vote, while Hatcher received 53.3%.
According to results finalized with 95% of the ballots counted, Hatcher will face Chaz Molder in the November midterm election. Molder won the Democratic primary with 40.9% of the vote. Hatcher, a former Tennessee agriculture commissioner, secured the Republican nomination.
Tennessee applies new election map for the first time
The primary was the first test of the congressional map redrawn in May by Republican state lawmakers after federal Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters were weakened.
Republicans hold eight of the nine House seats allocated to Tennessee. The party aims to win all nine seats in the state in November’s midterm elections.
Ogles’ social media post draws backlash
Ogles’ defeat came after a social media post that U.S. Muslim organizations and Democratic lawmakers criticized as anti-Islamic.
In the post, Ogles wrote, “Muslims have no place in American society. Pluralism is a lie.”
Osama Jamal, secretary-general of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned the remarks. “There is no place in America for hatred and discrimination against one another,” Jamal said.
Hatcher campaigned along Trump’s lines
Hatcher, who did not receive Trump’s backing, was endorsed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Campaigning as a pro-Trump candidate, Hatcher also highlighted his background in agriculture.
In remarks after his victory, Hatcher said, “The message resonated, and the message was this: Work like a farmer, get things done and serve others.”
