Mixed results as Trump power tested in Tennessee primary

Two-term Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a President Donald Trump ally, won the Republican nomination in the race to replace outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Her competition for the November election is Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, who won the Democratic nomination, gathering nearly 70% of the vote.

In Tennessee’s new right-leaning 9th Congressional District, state Rep. Justin Pearson, who was expelled and then reelected to the Tennessee House after protesting for gun control, secured the Democratic nomination by over 20,000 votes. Trump-backed state Sen. Brent Taylor won the Republican nomination and will attempt to turn the historically blue district red in the race to replace 10-term Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.

But another Trump endorsement did not fare as well. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., lost the Republican nomination to Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in a newly reshaped 5th Congressional District. Hatcher lacked Trump’s endorsement, but was backed by Gov. Lee. Chaz Molder, mayor of Columbia, Tenn., secured the Democratic nomination for the same seat.

For more up-to-date primary results, click here.