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Anti-Muslim US Congressman Andy Ogles loses Republican primary
United States Congressman Andy Ogles, who has a history of anti-Muslim statements, has lost his Republican primary in the state of Tennessee despite the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Ogles's loss on Thursday to Charlie Hatcher, the state's former agricultural commissioner, represents a rare incident in which Trump's endorsement failed to deliver in a Republican race. Hatcher has also represented himself as pro-Trump, but the US president heaped praise on Ogles earlier on Thursday, giving the incumbent his 'complete and total endorsement'. With nearly 90 percent of the votes counted, Hatcher had a 6.6-point lead over Ogles. Ogles is the second Trump-endorsed candidate to lose a primary this week. The district favours Republicans, but Democrats are trying to capitalise on the discontent with the economy and the war on Iran to flip seats across the country. 'Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie,' he wrote on X in March.