President Trump celebrated an 8-1 endorsement record in recent Republican primaries, dismissing the single loss as a race his backed candidate "had virtually no chance" of winning. The loss was Rep. Andy Ogles' defeat to Charlie Hatcher in Tennessee's redrawn 5th Congressional District, where Hatcher won 53.2% to 46.8%. Trump quickly endorsed Hatcher for the general election. The piece also notes a separate Michigan upset in which Trump's pick, Amir Hassan, lost to Thomas J. Smith.
Trump Boasts 8-1 Endorsement Record, Calls Andy Ogles' Loss 'Virtually No Chance'
Trump brags about endorsement record and dismisses his loss because the candidate had ‘virtually no chance of winning’
President Donald Trump touted an 8-1 win record for his Republican endorsements while downplaying the lone loss as a contest his backed candidate "had virtually no chance of winning." He framed the outcome as part of an otherwise successful night for candidates he supported.
"Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great \"Trump\" Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher," Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social.
The loss the president referenced was Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, a MAGA-aligned congressman who was defeated in the Republican primary for the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race after Charlie Hatcher captured 53.2 percent of the vote to Ogles' 46.8 percent.
President Donald Trump has touted his endorsement record in the Republican primary congressional elections, brushing off the defeat of one of his backed candidates who had 'virtually no chance of winning' (Getty Images)
Less than a day earlier, Trump had praised Ogles as "a Conservative Warrior" and said the congressman had his "complete and total endorsement." After the primary result, Trump shifted his public backing to Hatcher, writing, "Good luck Charlie! Run tough and hard. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!"
Controversies and Context
Ogles, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, faced scrutiny during the campaign over his financial disclosures and aspects of his resume. In 2024, the FBI seized his cellphone as part of a campaign finance probe; federal officials later agreed to return the device, a development that suggested the inquiry had been dropped. In 2023 he also acknowledged misrepresenting his college credentials.
Trump had praised Rep. Andy Ogles as 'a Conservative Warrior' some 24 hours before declaring the MAGA congressman had 'virtually no chance of winning' (Getty)
The Tennessee result was one of two recent notable defeats for Trump-backed hopefuls. In Michigan's Republican primary, Amir Hassan — the president's preferred candidate — finished with roughly 33.2 percent of the vote, while Thomas J. Smith, a retired engineer who had suspended his campaign last month, won with about 50.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. Smith will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in November.
Trump has repeatedly celebrated his influence in GOP contests, saying his endorsements are "virtually insurmountable" and claiming that "almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot." While his backing has produced many victories, these recent losses show limits to that influence in some competitive primaries.
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