Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) easily defeated primary challenger Courtney Johnston in Tennessee’s 5th congressional district primary.
With 65 percent of the vote counted, Ogles was declared the winner over Johnston, a member of the Nashville Metropolitan Council, by over nine points. The Associated Press called the race in Ogles’ favor at around 9:20 p.m. ET.
The 5th congressional district, one of three Nashville area districts redrawn favorably to Republicans after the 2020 census, is expected to prevent Democrats from reclaiming seats in the area despite its left-leaning tendencies.
Ogles’ victory positions him well for the November election, as he previously flipped the seat from Democrats in 2022 by a significant 13-point margin, partly due to redistricting.
A member of the House Freedom Caucus, Ogles was heavily favored to win after receiving the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
Johnston, although running a competitive fundraising campaign, was seen as more moderate compared to Ogles. She criticized him for various issues, including the border crisis, government spending, and legislative inaction.
In November, Ogles will face Democrat Maryam Abolfazli, who ran unopposed in her primary. Due to the district’s Republican-leaning nature, Ogles is expected to secure re-election easily.
Since taking office in 2023, Ogles has made headlines for his opposition to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s speakership and for filing impeachment articles against Vice President Kamala Harris on two occasions.
