Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has endorsed former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, a candidate running against U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in a Republican U.S. House primary.
In a video, Lee stated that he has known Hatcher for 25 years and praised his conservative values, saying "for seven years, he served as my commissioner of agriculture."
Lee asserted that Hatcher "has stood with President Trump since day one" and expressed support for the candidate ahead of the August 6th primary.
The governor's last-minute endorsement came just ahead of the primary, after early voting had already ended.
Hatcher responded to the endorsement in a Facebook post, saying he is "deeply honored" to receive Lee's support and noting that he has known Lee for decades.
The endorsement is significant, as Ogles has been endorsed by President Trump, who called him "a Conservative Warrior" last year.
Ogles has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2023, and the primary contest is set to take place on August 6th.
Hatcher's campaign will now face increased scrutiny with Lee's endorsement, and the primary contest is expected to be closely watched in the lead-up to the election.
