Tennessee Primary Results: New Map Reshapes Political Landscape

The primary election held Thursday in Tennessee became the first test of the state's new congressional map, redrawn in May. Tennessee is among about 10 states that have adjusted their maps since 2025, as parties seek advantages in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

The election was seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term. The Republican leader has welcomed redistricting efforts in GOP-leaning states like Tennessee as part of a national plan to maintain Republican control of Congress.

The redraw followed the U.S. Supreme Court's April ruling that weakened minority voter protections under the federal Voting Rights Act. That allowed Republican legislators to redraw the map to split the only Black-majority district in Memphis, once considered a Democratic stronghold.

Republicans currently hold 8 of the state's 9 House seats and will aim to capture all of them in the November election. Thursday's primary finalized both parties' candidates for the race.

Governor's Race: Blackburn Wins GOP Nomination

Senator Marsha Blackburn defeated Congressman John Rose to win the Republican nomination for governor. She will succeed Governor Bill Lee, who cannot run again due to term limits. In the general election, she will face Democratic candidate Jerri Green, a Memphis city council member.

Blackburn has a significant partisan advantage in a state that is a solid Republican stronghold. The party has held the governorship since 2011 and has won every Senate race since 1994. If elected, Blackburn would become Tennessee's first female governor.

District 5: Trump-Backed Incumbent Defeated

One of the biggest surprises came in the sprawling 5th District, which includes rural areas and part of Nashville. In the Republican primary, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated incumbent Congressman Andy Ogles, who had been endorsed by former President Trump.

Ogles has represented the 5th District since 2023 but faced criticism from many quarters for anti-Muslim comments. In a March post, he wrote: "Muslims do not belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie." Ogles became the second Trump-endorsed candidate to lose this week.

Hatcher, a fifth-generation dairy farmer in Tennessee, openly supports Trump despite not receiving his endorsement. He will face Democratic candidate Chaz Molder in November.

District 6: Garrett Wins Nomination for Open Seat

No incumbent ran in the 6th District, which stretches from Nashville to the northern border with Kentucky, because Congressman Rose chose not to seek re-election to run for governor.

The open seat created a competitive primary in the Republican-leaning district. State Rep. Johnny Garrett defeated Van Hilleary, Rose's former chief of staff. In November, Garrett will face Mike Croley, a Navy veteran who won the Democratic primary among five candidates.

District 9: Memphis Democratic Stronghold Could Flip

The 9th District, previously centered on the Democratic stronghold of Memphis, was the only Black-majority district on Tennessee's congressional map. It was split by Republicans this year, causing ripple effects that also affected the 5th District.

The new 9th District stretches about 320 kilometers from Memphis eastward through rural areas before reaching north to Nashville. It now leans Republican, with 71% of voters being new to the district, according to AP estimates.

Candidate Brent Taylor, a state senator endorsed by Trump, won the Republican nomination. He will face Justin Pearson, who won the Democratic primary. Pearson gained national attention in 2023 when he was expelled from the Tennessee House for protesting in support of gun control measures but was later re-elected by voters.

In his victory speech, Pearson noted that Thursday marked the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act's signing, while criticizing the Supreme Court's decision and the redistricting effort: "It is a blatant attempt to stop people like us from holding power and to make us give up. But tonight, we take one step closer to Washington, D.C."

Senate: Incumbent Hagerty Advances

Senator Bill Hagerty won the Republican nomination unopposed. He will face Marquita Bradshaw, an environmental and human rights activist and the Democratic nominee. Hagerty, first elected in 2020, remains highly favored in the traditionally Republican state.