House Minority Leader Pledges to Defeat Representative Over Deleted Social Media Post

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday he intends to defeat Rep. Andy Ogles in the November election after the Republican posted a statement on social media that homosexuality has no place in America. Bill Lee signed a resolution earlier this year designating the same month Nuclear Family Month in the state.

"He's someone who continues to make clear that Republicans have zero interest in actually doing anything about any of the issues that the American people care about in terms of the economy, and he'd rather spend time trying to divide us, say outrageous things to appeal to his MAGA base," Jeffries told the Washington Examiner.

"Ultimately, I think Andy Ogles is going down in flames and will be defeated in November," Jeffries added.

Reactions from other lawmakers Rep.

Yassamin Ansari said in a text message to the Washington Examiner that the post was "insane" and that she would consider supporting a censure resolution. Former Rep. George Santos wrote on X that he never expected a person he considered a friend to say there is no place for him in the country because of who he chose to love.

Rep. Mike Lawler wrote on X that homosexuality exists in America and that Ogles has family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and constituents who are gay and lesbian.

District changes and reelection outlook Ogles had faced a potentially competitive race before Tennessee legislative Republicans redrew district lines after a Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The new boundaries placed Memphis within Ogles's Middle Tennessee district.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report estimated that President Donald Trump would have carried the redrawn district by 23 points in the 2024 election.