Anti-Muslim US Congressman Andy Ogles loses congressional primary

United States Congressman Andy Ogles , who has a history of anti-Muslim statements, has lost his Republican primary in the state of Tennessee despite the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Ogles’s loss on Thursday to Charlie Hatcher, the state’s former agricultural commissioner, represents a rare incident in which Trump’s endorsement failed to deliver in a Republican race.

Hatcher has also represented himself as pro-Trump, but the US president heaped praise on Ogles earlier on Thursday, giving the incumbent his “complete and total endorsement”.

With nearly 90 percent of the votes counted, Hatcher had a 6.6-point lead over Ogles.

The congressman, who was first elected in 2022, was running in a redrawn district after Republicans had changed the electoral map in the state to help the party retain its majority in the US House of Representatives.

Hatcher will face Chaz Molder, the Democratic mayor of Columbia – a city south of Nashville – in November.

The Republican nominee received a late endorsement from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

The district favours Republicans, but Democrats are trying to capitalise on the discontent with the economy and the war on Iran to flip seats across the country.