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R Republican · U.S. House 5, Tennessee · Nov 3, 2026

Charlie
Hatcher

Republican congressional candidate for Tennessee's 5th District; former state agriculture commissioner and livestock veterinarian

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
21
positions
9
endorsements
6
charliehatcher.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Chaz Molder D+ 2 more Compare race →

Background

Dr. Charlie Hatcher is a Republican candidate for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. A dairy farmer and livestock veterinarian from College Grove, Tennessee, he earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from Middle Tennessee State University in 1980 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1984. [2, 11, 13]

Hatcher founded Rock-N-Country Veterinary Services, a livestock-focused private practice in College Grove, in 1993, and has long been involved in family agricultural businesses. He served as Tennessee's state veterinarian for approximately a decade beginning in 2009, before being appointed by Governor Bill Lee as the state's 38th Commissioner of Agriculture in December 2018. He served in that role until retiring effective September 30, 2025. [1, 10, 11, 13]

Hatcher won the Republican primary on August 6, 2026, defeating incumbent Andy Ogles for the TN-5 nomination. He faces the Democratic candidate in the November 3, 2026 general election. A pre-election poll from October 2026 showed Hatcher with a narrow five-point lead. [4, 6, 7]

Hatcher's campaign tagline emphasizes conservative and agricultural themes: "Pro-Gun. Pro-Life. Pro-Tennessee. Farm Strong." He has no prior elected office; his previous government roles were appointed or administrative positions. [3, 9]

At a glance

Party
Republican
Running for
U.S. House · District 5, Tennessee
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
charliehatcher.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 10
    news
    Hatcher addresses gas prices as Republican candidate for TN's 5th congressional district

    Hatcher spoke about gas prices as the Republican candidate for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, as reported by WSMV News 4 on October 10.

    Charlie Hatcher, Republican candidate for TN's 5th congressional district, addressed gas prices · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 10
    news
    Hatcher attends Trump's Clarksville midterm rally

    Hatcher attended President Trump's Republican rally in Clarksville, Tennessee. A campaign statement issued ahead of the event said Hatcher was 'looking forward to the President's visit to Tennessee on Saturday and plans on attending and supporting him.'

    Photos from Trump's Clarksville stop aimed at GOP voters · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 7
    news
    Hatcher debuts first general-election TV ad, presenting himself as a farmer

    Hatcher's campaign began airing its first general-election television ad, presenting him as a farmer and experienced leader. The ad's closing line was: 'Want a congressman to get things done and a work ethic to make Tennessee proud? Hire the farmer.' The campaign had not aired a general-election ad before this spot.

    Charlie Hatcher debuts general election television ad · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 7
    poll
    Molder campaign poll shows Hatcher leading 46% to 41%, with highly motivated voters tied

    An Impact Research poll of 552 likely voters, commissioned by the Molder campaign, showed Hatcher at 46% and Molder at 41%, with 11% undecided and a 4.2-point margin of error. Among voters who said they were very motivated to vote, the candidates were tied at 44%. An August poll by the same campaign had shown Hatcher ahead 48% to 40%.

    New Molder campaign poll shows Hatcher with narrow 5-point lead · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Oct 2
    news
    Hatcher and Molder confirmed as 5th District general election opponents with debate agreed in principle

    The Nashville Banner reported that with Andy Ogles ousted in the primary, Hatcher and Molder face off in the 5th District general election and that both candidates had agreed to debate, though specific logistics had not yet been confirmed.

    With Ogles ousted, Hatcher and Molder face off in 5th district · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 18
    endorsement
    Trump endorses Hatcher after primary win over Ogles; national coverage notes upset

    Following Hatcher's primary defeat of Trump-backed incumbent Andy Ogles, President Trump endorsed Hatcher for the general election. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and former Gov. Bill Haslam had also supported Hatcher in the primary. Reporting noted Hatcher pledged loyalty to Trump while taking a more qualified approach to some Trump policies.

    Trump's Support Couldn't Save These 14 Candidates From Primary Defeat · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 16
    debate
    Hatcher agrees to debate Molder in 5th District general election

    Hatcher agreed to debate Democratic nominee Chaz Molder ahead of the November 3 election, as reported alongside news that Molder had received an endorsement from Blue Dog Democrats. Debate logistics, including time and location, remained unconfirmed at the time.

    Molder endorsed by Blue Dog Democrats as Hatcher agrees to debate · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sep 14
    news
    Hatcher outlines energy positions: backs limited renewable subsidies, praises Tennessee's nuclear leadership

    In an interview reported by the Tennessee Lookout, Hatcher said renewable-energy subsidies can help new industries but should be limited in duration, stating 'The federal government doesn't need to create an artificial demand for a certain renewable energy.' He said he was proud of Tennessee 'leading the country on nuclear energy' and on nuclear-waste storage said he would 'let the experts deal with that.'

    Molder and Hatcher discuss positions on renewable energy, nuclear power ahead of November election · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  9. Aug 6
    news
    Hatcher wins Republican primary over incumbent Andy Ogles, 53.24% to 46.76%

    Charlie Hatcher defeated Trump-backed incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, winning 53.24% to 46.76% according to figures from the Tennessee Secretary of State. The win set up a general-election matchup against Democratic nominee Chaz Molder on November 3.

    After Rep. Andy Ogles loses seat, Nashville billboard has an offer for him · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Sonny Perdue official
    Former U.S. agriculture secretary and former Georgia governor; backed Hatcher at a campaign event around July 16, 2026. No exact endorsement date specified. tennessean.com
  • Rogers Anderson official
    Former U.S. representative and Williamson County mayor; reported as supporting Hatcher in an August 5 roundup, but no exact date or formal endorsement quote was given. nashvillescene.com
  • Donald Trump official
    U.S. president; endorsed Hatcher for the general election after Hatcher won the primary, writing 'You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!' Trump had previously endorsed Hatcher's primary opponent, Andy Ogles. tennessean.com · Aug 7, 2026
  • Bill Lee official
    Tennessee governor; said 'I know Charlie. I know his conservative values. I know he'll work hard, serve people & get the job done.' wsmv.com · Aug 4, 2026
  • Bill Haslam official
    Former Tennessee governor; said Hatcher was 'authentic' and 'will be a leader on day one in Congress.' tennessean.com · Jul 16, 2026
  • Zach Wamp official
    Former U.S. representative from Tennessee; endorsed Hatcher at a fundraising event on May 28, 2026. tennessean.com · May 28, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$720K
Spent
$615K
Cash on hand
$105K

As of Jul 17, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6TN05405(opens in a new tab)

Sources 21

  1. [1] Charlie Hatcher, Republican candidate for TN's 5th congressional district, addressed gas prices(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  2. [2] Photos from Trump's Clarksville stop aimed at GOP voters(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  3. [3] Charlie Hatcher debuts general election television ad(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  4. [4] New Molder campaign poll shows Hatcher with narrow 5-point lead(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  5. [5] Charlie Hatcher – Pro-Gun. Pro-Life. Pro-Tennessee. Farm Strong.(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  6. [6] With Ogles ousted, Hatcher and Molder face off in 5th district(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  7. [7] After Rep. Andy Ogles loses seat, Nashville billboard has an offer for him(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  8. [8] GOP hopeful removes 'Pro-Trump' mention from campaign slogan(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
  9. [9] Trump's Support Couldn't Save These 14 Candidates From Primary Defeat(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  10. [10] Where the Candidates Stand: Charlie Hatcher on Climate ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  11. [11] Molder endorsed by Blue Dog Democrats as Hatcher agrees to debate(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
  12. [12] Molder and Hatcher discuss positions on renewable energy, nuclear power ahead of November election(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  13. [13] Charlie Hatcher upsets Andy Ogles, to face Chaz Molder for TN ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
  14. [14] Ogles loss raises questions about Trump, PAC spending, more(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
  15. [15] Voters have decided to replace Rep. Andy Ogles. Here’s who ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
  16. [16] Endorsements Roll in Ahead of Election Day(opens in a new tab) Aug 5, 2026
  17. [17] Gov. Bill Lee endorses Rep. Andy Ogles’ GOP primary opponent to represent TN in Congress(opens in a new tab) Aug 4, 2026
  18. [18] Charlie Hatcher faces GOP-backed challenger in House race(opens in a new tab) Jul 29, 2026
  19. [19] Former Gov. Haslam endorses Hatcher over Ogles in congressional primary(opens in a new tab) Jul 16, 2026
  20. [20] Charlie Hatcher Frames Redrawn Congressional District 5 Map as Strength to Unseat Andy Ogles(opens in a new tab) Jun 8, 2026
  21. [21] Former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp endorses Charlie Hatcher for Congress in TN-5(opens in a new tab) May 29, 2026
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