A major endorsement and a rare debate are the latest updates in what’s become one of the most interesting congressional races in Tennessee this cycle.
In the race for Tennessee's newly drawn Distrct 5, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in a stunning upset in the August primary.
Now in the general — in a district redrawn by Republicans to give the GOP a political advantage — Hatcher has a built-in lead over his rival, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder.
He also has a name recognition advantage, particularly in rural areas of the district where farmers were already familiar with him from his years as state veterinarian and agriculture chief. And he’s drawn financial support from the Invest in Tomorrow
Coalition, a political action committee focused on renewable energy.
But moderate Democrat Molder has earned some big endorsements, and drawn significant financial backing and organizational support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Both candidates have had to put in hours of travel time to get to voters in the district, which was gerrymandered to include the southern Nashville suburb of Franklin, parts of Clarksville, Lake County in the northwest corner of the state, and most of Tennessee’s western border, down to Memphis.
Blue Dogs endorse Molder
Molder announced an endorsement from the Blue Dog coalition of Democrats on Sept. 16. The Blue Dogs — founded in 1995 by Tennessee Congressman John Tanner and others — stand for responsible spending, a strong national defense and practical solutions. Amid rising political polarization, the coalition has dwindled from more than 50 members in 2009 to just 10 members.
Molder has said he will join the Blue Dog Coalition if elected and help build a new generation of independent Democratic leadership.
“Tennessee’s Blue Dogs showed that you could be a proud Democrat and earn the trust of Republicans and independents, too,” Molder said. “They were careful with tax dollars, and they knew how to get things done. That tradition has a future, and I’m proud to help build it with the support of the Blue Dogs.”
Tennesseans helped establish the Blue Dog coalition in Congress. Other Tennessee Blue Dog Democrats have included Bart Davis, Harold Ford Jr. and Jim Cooper, who represented District 5 until it was redrawn in 2021. Tanner has endorsed Molder.
“When we started the Blue Dogs, we came together around the idea that fiscal responsibility and working across party lines ought to mean something to Democrats in Washington, too,” Tanner said.
“Chaz has put those principles to work in Columbia. He knows you can disagree with somebody and still find a way to get things done together,” Tanner added. “That’s the kind of leadership Tennessee needs, and I’m proud to see him help carry this tradition forward.”
Hatcher takes a different approach on Trump
Hatcher has set himself apart from other Republicans in Tennessee’s congressional delegation who often struggle to find any Trump policy with which they disagree.
While Hatcher has said he’ll be loyal to the president — and has earned Trump’s endorsement — he's has been nuanced in his approach to Trump’s policies.
After Trump announced a tariff reprieve on imported beef to lower the cost of meat — a move that was projected to undercut American-produced beef by 25% — Hatcher praised Trump’s goal of lowering grocery prices but criticized his strategy.
“We know how this proposal will affect American cattle producers," Hatcher said. "Our farmers and ranchers have faced drought, high feed and fuel costs, increased input costs, and historically low cattle inventories. We should be encouraging American producers to rebuild our cattle herd, not putting them at a competitive disadvantage to foreign beef.”
“I support President Trump’s goal of lowering grocery prices for American families, but the long-term answer is producing more food here at home,” he said.
Will they debate?
District 5 could be the only federal general election race in Tennessee in which candidates actually debate each other this cycle.
Hatcher said last week that he would debate Molder, saying he feels “voters deserve to hear from the two nominees in this important race.”
Citing the gerrymandering that “gave us a lot of ground to cover,” Molder has since proposed three debates: in Columbia, Memphis and Martin.
“No voter should have to drive three hours to hear their congressional candidates debate,” Molder said in a statement last week. “Three debates will give people across this district a chance to hear from both of us in person, close to home.”
Hatcher’s team told The Tennessean that he’s been “meeting folks where they are in every nook and cranny of the 5th District for months.” And he’ll meet Molder for a forum soon.
“Charlie looks forward to a discussion on the issues at a time and place that works for both candidates throughout the district,” said Hatcher spokesman Chris Devaney.
No time or location for a debate has been announced yet.
An internal poll released by the Molder team shows Hatcher in the lead by 8 percentage points, with 11% of voters undecided. More voters in the district are familiar with Hatcher (58%) than Molder (41%).
But Molder could be closing the gap as midterm years are typically tough for the party in power, and this year is no exception. The Columbia mayor ramped up his spending on a digital ad campaign this month.
Hatcher hasn't released new ads since the primary but has held campaign events in the district during a “thank you tour” to celebrate his primary victory.
The deadline to register to vote in November is Oct. 5.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X @Vivian_E_Jones.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Molder endorsed by Blue Dog Democrats as Hatcher agrees to debate
