Three new Republican nominees for Tennessee’s congressional delegation emerged from Thursday’s primary elections after voters selected former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in the 5th Congressional District, State Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) in the 6th Congressional District, and State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) in the 9th Congressional District.
The victories mean Republicans will field three new nominees in districts that featured competitive GOP primaries, with Hatcher (pictured above, center) unseating Trump-endorsed incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Garrett defeating former U.S. Representative Van Hilleary in a three-way contest, and Taylor prevailing in a four-candidate race for the newly redrawn, likely Republican pickup seat in West Tennessee.
In Tennessee’s 5th District, Hatcher defeated incumbent Ogles by a margin of 53.24 percent to 46.76 percent, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s unofficial final election results. Hatcher received 36,544 votes compared to Ogles’ 32,091 votes.
In the 6th District, Garrett (pictured above, left) secured the Republican nomination with 43.63 percent of the vote in a three-way race to fill the seat currently occupied by U.S. Rep. John Rose (R-TN-06), who dropped his reelection bid and instead pursued an unsuccessful run for governor.
In the 9th District, Taylor (pictured above, right), who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination after receiving 31,057 votes, or 46.03 percent, according to the unofficial final results. Taylor defeated State Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill), who garnered 17,775 votes, or 26.35 percent. Jeremy Thompson finished third with 13,481 votes, representing 19.98 percent, while Charlotte Bergmann received 5,153 votes, or 7.64 percent.
The Republican nominees will now advance to the November 3 general election.
In the 5th District, Hatcher will face Democratic nominee Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who won the Democratic primary with 17,729 votes, or 40.51 percent.
In the 6th District, Garrett will face Democratic nominee Mike Croley, who secured 11,594 votes, or 28.90 percent, in a five-candidate primary.
In the 9th District, Brent Taylor will face Democratic nominee State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), who won his party’s nomination with 32,092 votes, or 65.75 percent of the vote.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Johnny Garrett” by Johnny Garrett, “Charlie Hatcher” is by Charlie Hatcher, and “Brent Taylor” is by Brent Taylor.
