David A. Lieb

Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Trump-endorsed Representative Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District. Ogles’s defeat came despite Trump’s support and followed scrutiny over his campaign finances and academic credentials. The redistricting created districts with large shares of new voters and divided Memphis among three congressional seats, drawing criticism that it diluted Black and urban political representation. In the reconfigured 9th District, Trump-backed Republican Brent Taylor will face Democratic Representative Justin Pearson, while longtime Democrat Steve Cohen is retiring. The results provide an early test of Tennessee Republicans’ redistricting strategy and its effect on congressional control and minority voting power.