Nine House incumbents are out. It's the worst primary bloodbath since 1970

Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles became the ninth sitting U.S. House member to lose a primary this year when former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated him by roughly 53 percent to 47 percent on Thursday night. That win pushes 2026's incumbent casualty count to six Democrats and three Republicans - the largest number of House primary defeats in a year without nationwide redistricting since 1970, according to figures NBC News compiled from Vital Statistics on Congress. More than a dozen states still haven't voted, so the count isn't final. Two distinct currents are driving the wave. Among Republicans, the common denominator is friction with President Donald Trump. Among Democrats, it's almost the reverse - primary voters punishing candidates they view as too cautious, too centrist, or simply too entrenched. All six of 2026's Democratic incumbent losses came from challengers running to the left, several tied to the Democratic Socialists of America. Republicans are facing loyalty tests tied to Trump; Democrats are working through a generational and ideological reckoning playing out district by district. With several states still to vote, both parties are watching to see how many more incumbents join the list before Election Day on Nov. 3.