Republican congressman Andy Ogles, whose official social media account declared during Pride Month that “homosexuality has no place in America”, has lost his bid for another term in the US House of Representatives.
The Trump-endorsed Tennessee representative was defeated by former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s redrawn 5th Congressional District on Thursday, 6 August.
Hatcher received 53.24 per cent of the vote to Ogles’ 46.76 per cent, according to unofficial results published by the Tennessee Secretary of State.
The defeat represents a rare primary loss for a sitting Republican congressman backed by President Donald Trump, who had supported Ogles during his campaigns for Congress.
Hatcher will now advance to November’s general election.
‘Homosexuality has no place in America’
Ogles’ defeat comes two months after a post from his official X account attracted widespread condemnation during Pride Month.
“Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month,” the 2 June post read.
The message prompted criticism not only from LGBTQ+ advocates and Democrats but also from fellow Republicans.
New York Republican congressman Mike Lawler responded directly.
“Homosexuality exists. In America,” Lawler wrote.
“In fact Andy, you have family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and constituents who are gay and lesbian. It doesn’t make them less than or somehow unworthy of being an American. What an absolutely idiotic statement to make.”
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz also rejected the sentiment, despite having his own longstanding conservative record on issues including same-sex marriage.
“I think for all of recorded history, homosexuals have been part of humanity,” Cruz said in an interview with TMZ. “I’ve got to say that I’m quite libertarian by nature. I think the behaviour of consenting adults is their business.”
Ogles later blamed the post on a staff member, describing it as “stupid” and “inappropriate”. However, when repeatedly asked whether he personally agreed or disagreed with the claim that homosexuality had no place in America, he declined to give a direct answer.
Ogles also targeted Muslims
The Pride Month controversy was not the first time Ogles had used inflammatory language about a minority community.
On 9 March, the Tennessee Republican wrote on X: “Muslims don’t belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie.”
The remarks drew condemnation from Democratic congressional leaders and Muslim civil-rights advocates.
Ogles had previously advocated restricting immigration from several Muslim-majority countries and has established himself as a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus.
He also attracted controversy in June 2025 when he called for Zohran Mamdani, who had just won the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City, to face denaturalisation proceedings and deportation.
“Zohran ‘Little Muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED,” Ogles wrote at the time.
“Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalisation proceedings.”
Mamdani is a naturalised US citizen. Ogles asked the Justice Department to investigate whether his citizenship had been obtained through misrepresentation, citing Mamdani’s past political comments.
A rare defeat for a Trump-backed incumbent
Ogles was first elected to Congress in 2022 and had won re-election in 2024.
Trump again endorsed him in the 2026 contest and participated in a late-July “tele-rally” supporting his campaign as the primary race tightened.
However, Hatcher entered the contest with backing from other influential Tennessee Republicans, including Governor Bill Lee, and ultimately defeated the incumbent in the newly reshaped district.
The final days of Ogles’ campaign also unfolded against the backdrop of controversies surrounding his political rhetoric and questions about his campaign finances.
His defeat means the congressman who began Pride Month with a declaration that “homosexuality has no place in America” will instead be leaving Congress when his current term concludes.
