{"id":2641972,"date":"2026-08-07T17:12:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-should-take-notice-of-liberal-spending-in-gop-primaries-ogles\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:15:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:15:19","slug":"republicans-should-take-notice-of-liberal-spending-in-gop-primaries-ogles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-should-take-notice-of-liberal-spending-in-gop-primaries-ogles\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans should \u2018take notice\u2019 of liberal spending in GOP primaries: Ogles"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-should-take-notice-of-liberal-spending-in-gop-primaries-ogles%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641972&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) attributed his primary defeat to extensive outside spending by a green energy group, which diverted millions into the race and influenced the outcome by attacking him and supporting his opponent, Charlie Hatcher. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC spent $2 million to oppose Ogles, outspending both candidates significantly. Ogles had also faced challenges due to redistricting, which altered his district substantially, leaving him with limited familiarity and resources.Despite his efforts,including campaigning across nearly all counties,Ogles lost with limited cash on hand. The defeat reflects broader concerns among Republicans about left-leaning groups meddling in GOP primaries,with outside spending and district changes playing key roles. Ogles expressed a commitment to support Hatcher post-election and does not currently plan to run for office again, focusing instead on assisting House leadership. This loss marks another instance of Trump-backed candidates facing primary setbacks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) blamed his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/primary\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2520\">primary<\/a> loss on a flood of outside <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/spending\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17\">spending<\/a>, singling out a clean <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/energy\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8777\">energy<\/a> group that dumped millions into the race and arguing that the \u201cradical left successfully employed a strategy to influence\u201d the outcome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRepublicans across the country should take notice,\u201d Ogles told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in a text message. \u201cIf the Left can spend millions to meddle in Republican primaries in Tennessee, they\u2019ll do it in every red state where they think they can buy the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4679661\/ogles-republicans-leftist-spending-primaries-tennessee\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ogles says Republicans should \u2018take notice\u2019 of liberal spending in GOP primaries<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4677523\/trump-kingmaker-reputation-damaged-primary-endorsement-losses\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump\u2019s role as kingmaker dented after two primary losses this week<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4679239\/trump-midterm-election-war-chest-800-million\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump touts large war chest for midterm elections with over $400 million on hand<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC spent $2 million to oust Ogles in Tennessee\u2019s 5th District, massively outspending both Ogles and his opponent, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hatcher spent $615,000 in his bid to unseat Ogles, while the incumbent spent $617,000, according to the candidates\u2019 latest campaign filings. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spending against Ogles by the green energy group comes after he, alongside his colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus, pushed GOP leadership for a shorter phaseout of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/steak-is-now-less-expensive-as-inflation-pushes-consumers-toward-cheaper-protein\/\" title=\"Steak Is Now Less Expensive As Inflation Pushes Consumers Toward Cheaper Protein\">renewable energy tax credits<\/a> during negotiations in Republicans\u2019 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/one-big-beautiful-bill\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23132\">One Big Beautiful Bill<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTennessee\u2019s 5th District just proved once again that standing in the way of America\u2019s energy future comes with a hefty political price,\u201d the chairman of the PAC, Tom Matzzie, said in a statement. \u201cThis is our second upset in as many primaries \u2014 first Chip Roy, now Andy Ogles \u2013 and we will continue to punish members of either party who want to play politics with American jobs, energy security, and utility prices. The entire map is in play and we will take this fight across the country through November.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1214079756\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1214079756\">group\u2019s ads<\/a> did not focus on renewable energy issues, instead dinging Ogles for missing votes and calling him a \u201cshow horse\u201d while painting Hatcher as a workhorse. A review of Ogles\u2019s voting history by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> showed he did not cast a vote 53 times this session.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC similarly spent against Ogles\u2019s fellow HFC members, including Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chip-roy\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1711\">Chip Roy<\/a> (R-TX) in his failed attorney general bid and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in his unsuccessful governorship bid. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The green energy PAC is primarily bankrolled by California-based billionaire Chris Larsen, who is the chairman of the crypto company Ripple. Larsen contributed $6 million of Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC\u2019s $6.8 million war chest. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, while outside spending played a significant role in Ogles\u2019s primary loss, other factors were at play in his unsuccessful primary bid, with a Republican operative telling the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that there were \u201cno surprises\u201d regarding the outcome of the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Redistricting left Ogles in largely unfamiliar territory, after the GOP legislature redrew his district to pull in parts of the old 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th districts. The new 5th District, which stretches from Memphis, along the Mississippi River to the Kentucky border before dipping into Middle Tennessee, retained just 17% of the previous iteration, which included parts of Nashville and was concentrated in the central part of the state, according to <em>Inside Elections<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe had no money,\u201d the Republican operative explained in a text message. \u201cOutside $ buried him. Most of the district was so new so to him your typical incumbency advantage was essentially non existent.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ogles ended the primary with just $58,000 cash on hand, and the GOP operative pointed to Ogles himself as a factor in the outcome, saying the incumbent did not \u201ctake the race seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEveryone kinda saw the writing on the wall,\u201d the operative said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ogles disagreed with the sentiment that he did not take the primary seriously, saying he was in \u201cevery county at least twice while still making votes in DC.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI attended virtually all of the Reagan Day dinners, attended festivals etc. and cancelled a scheduled [congressional delegation] to work the district,\u201d Ogles said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He noted that Hatcher, whom he described as a \u201cgood man,\u201d had a lot of existing connections in the rural district from his time in public service in Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Tennessee lawmaker is the second candidate backed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> to lose a primary election this week, with Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran and former law enforcement officer, losing his Michigan primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Ogles\u2019s loss, Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social that he \u201cremained loyal\u201d to the House incumbent \u201ceven though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great \u2018Trump\u2019 Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4678622\/andy-ogles-charlie-hatcher-tennessee-house-primary\/\"><strong>TRUMP-BACKED ANDY OGLES LOSES GOP PRIMARY FOR TENNESSEE HOUSE SEAT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ogles told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that while the outcome was not what he hoped, \u201cCharlie is a good man and I will do whatever I can to help him be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Tennessee Republican said he has talked with Hatcher twice, having spoken Thursday night and Friday morning over text, since the primary result, and that he has offered to help Hatcher during his campaign and freshman orientation after the election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ll do whatever I can to [ensure] his success,\u201d Ogles said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whether he would be interested in getting appointed to Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marsha-blackburn\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2094\">Marsha Blackburn\u2019s<\/a> (R-TN) seat should she win the governorship, or if he plans to mount a comeback bid for his House seat, Ogles wrote he had \u201cno plans to run right now\u201d and that he was \u201cFocused on helping the Speaker hold the House.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ogles blames outside spending for primary loss, urges GOP alert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2641973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24215177709494.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[43360,71477,83852,28527,39203],"class_list":["post-2641972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-strategies","tag-gop-primaries","tag-liberal-spending","tag-ogles","tag-republican-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24215177709494.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641972"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641976,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641972\/revisions\/2641976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}