leftwing special interest buys a GOP Congress primary in TN; consevaitve incumbent defeated | Eastern NC Now

A conservative held Congressional seat has gone to the RINOs in Tennessee as a result of heavy independent spending by a leftwing special interest group.  The fact that it was an open primary where non-Republicans were allowed to vote in a Republican primary was also a major factor.  So was the fact that Tennessee just had a new redistricting, and many of his constituents were new to the conservative incumbent.

Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN), a member of the Freedom Caucus and endorsed by President Trump narrowly fell in the primary to the candidate of Big Wind and Big Solar, Charlie Hatcher.  Hatcher was the beneficiary of massive outside spending on his behalf from "Invest in Tomorrow PAC", a front for Big Solar and Big Wind special interests.  The Big Wind / Big Solar PAC spent $2 million, which was more than both of the campaigns spent combined.

This disaster will impact other issues beyond Big Wind and Big Solar.  Ogles has been a leader in fighting illegal immigration and rogue activist judges.  Hatcher is a big farmer and weak on illegal immigration issues.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/shocker-conservative-rep-ogles-loses-gop-primary-challenger/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/07/green-energy-pac-takes-down-conservative-andy-ogles-in-tennessee-primary/

This debacle should be a wakeup call in North Carolina to close our primaries to registered Republicans ONLY   The party also needs to actively call out these special interests who try to buy our primary nominations.  We just had that happen here locally when Big Ag special interests and Gambling specials interests got together to buy our State House seat away from our local conservative incumbent with heavy outside spending.