Andrew Ogles

President Donald Trump's endorsement has remained one of the Republican Party's most sought-after political prizes during the 2026 election cycle, helping the vast majority of his preferred candidates secure victories in GOP primaries.

However, his winning streak suffered a setback on Thursday when Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee lost the Republican primary for the state's newly redrawn 5th Congressional District.

During Trump's first term, from 2017 to 2021, Ballotpedia tracked 305 endorsements. In 2026 alone, the president has made 312 primary endorsements, with 97 percent of his endorsed candidates winning their primaries through early July, according to the elections tracker.

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Ogles lost to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher despite receiving Trump's endorsement, becoming one of only a small number of candidates backed by the president to lose at the ballot box this year.

Trump-Backed Losses in 2026

Andy Ogles

Ogles entered the race with Trump's support after establishing himself as one of the president's closest allies in Congress. Trump has described the Tennessee congressman as "a Conservative Warrior."

Hatcher, who was backed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, ultimately prevailed in the closely watched contest following the state's congressional redistricting.

Amir Hassan

Two days before Ogles' defeat, Trump-backed congressional candidate Amir Hassan in Michigan's 8th District to Thomas J. Smith.

The result surprised many observers because Smith had suspended his campaign weeks before Election Day but remained on the ballot, ultimately winning with 50.4 percent of the vote. Hassan, who had received Trump's endorsement in July, finished well behind Smith with 33.2 percent.

The upset represented one of the most unexpected defeats for a Trump-endorsed House candidate this cycle.

Phil Berger

North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger suffered one of the of the 2026 primary season when he lost the Republican nomination for the state's 26th Senate District to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.

Berger has been one of the state's most influential Republican lawmakers for more than a decade.

Burt Jones

Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in June, a significant setback for the president in a contest viewed as a test of his influence in the battleground state.

Brenda Wilson

Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member, ran for election to the Indiana Senate to represent District 38 but lost in the Republican primary on May 5.

Bruce Borders

Fellow Indiana Republican Bruce Borders, who has held his seat in the state's House of Representative since 2014, also failed to win renomination.

The longtime state representative, who previously served in the Indiana House from 2004 to 2012, was another early casualty among Trump's endorsed candidates.

Sid Miller

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller's primary loss was notable because relatively few statewide incumbents backed by Trump have failed to secure another nomination. Miller has served in the role since 2015.

Randy Feenstra

Representative Randy Feenstra of Iowa lost the state's GOP gubernatorial primary in a contest that drew attention as a test of competing Republican factions.

Pamela Evette

While South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette narrowly finished first in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary on June 9, she lost the runoff two weeks later—securing 31.4 percent of the vote to state Attorney General Alan Wilson's 68.6 percent.

Trump had initially endorsed Evette ahead of the primary, but he later issued a dual endorsement for Wilson days before the runoff.

Jon Maples

Earlier this year, Jon Maples ran in a special election to represent District 87—home to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate—in the Florida House of Representatives. Though he won the primary with more than 80 percent of the vote, he ultimately lost the general election by 2.4 percentage points to Democrat Emily Gregory.

Maples is now running in the regular election for District 87, with the Republican primary scheduled for August 18. If he wins, he and Gregory would again face off in November's general election.

Trump's Endorsement Record Remains Strong

Trump has endorsed hundreds of candidates running for congressional, statewide and legislative offices this cycle, and the losses remain the exception rather than the rule.

Still, Ogles' defeat adds another name to the short list of candidates who were unable to convert the president's backing into a nomination victory, providing a reminder that even the Republican Party's most influential endorsement is not a guarantee of success.