A redrawn district
Republican Representative Andy Ogles lost his primary in Tennessee on Tuesday, according to race calls by multiple news outlets. The defeat ends his time in Congress after two terms. Ogles ran in a district that was redrawn after the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered new maps for the 2026 elections.
The new boundaries changed the political character of the district around Nashville. Ogles, who first won in 2022, had represented parts of the area since then. The redrawn map shifted voters and forced him to compete in a more crowded field with several well-funded challengers.
Redistricting played a central role in the race. The court found that the previous maps packed Democratic voters into one district and spread Republicans across others. The new map moved Ogles's home into a district with different suburbs and more independent voters.
A hard-line record under scrutiny
Ogles built a national profile as a hard-line conservative. He was one of the House members who pushed to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023. He also sponsored legislation on immigration and border security that drew both support and criticism.
His campaign faced legal troubles this cycle. Federal prosecutors charged Ogles in connection with campaign finance reporting, a case he called politically motivated. The charges became a central issue in the primary, and his opponents used them in attack ads.
National groups spent heavily on both sides. Conservative super PACs defended Ogles, while outside money backed his challengers. The race became one of the most expensive House primaries in the country this year.
What the result means
Political analysts said the loss shows how redistricting can reshape Republican primaries in 2026. Incumbents across the country are facing new maps this year, and several have already lost renomination bids.
Ogles conceded the race and thanked his supporters in a statement. The winner of the primary is expected to be favored in the general election in the Republican-leaning district. The result adds to a list of primary upsets as the midterm campaign season moves toward November.