Tennessee Primary Elections: Blackburn Wins Governor Nomination; Ogles Loses House Seat in Upset

Tennessee conducted primary elections on Thursday, August 6, 2026, producing results across multiple statewide and congressional races. Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican gubernatorial primary, defeating Rep. John Rose and Monty Fritts, according to CBS News, NBC News, and Fox News. NBC News reported that President Trump had chosen not to endorse in the governor's race. In a separate development, two-term Republican Rep. Andy Ogles lost his primary to Charlie Hatcher, a former Tennessee agriculture commissioner, in what The New York Times described as an upset; Ogles had previously survived primary challenges despite facing controversy. In Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, Democrat Chaz Molder won his party's nomination for the U.S. House seat, as reported by ABC News. In the race to succeed Rep. John Rose, who is vacating his seat to run for other office, Tennessee state Rep. Johnny Garrett won the Republican primary, according to The Hill, citing projections from Decision Desk HQ. Garrett, described as a self-identified "Trump Conservative," defeated a former House Republican in the primary. He is set to face Democratic nominee Mike Croley, a former park ranger, in the November general election for that seat. With primary results finalized in these races, the focus now shifts to the November general election, where Blackburn is positioned as a leading candidate for governor, Hatcher will face the eventual Democratic nominee for the 5th District seat vacated in the upset over Ogles, and Garrett will compete against Croley for Rose's open House seat. Reports do not specify exact vote margins or turnout figures for these primaries. The full slate of candidates advancing to November, as well as any other down-ballot primary results from the same election cycle, was not detailed in available reporting.