NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Democrat Chaz Molder is running for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District seat against Republican Charlie Hatcher in a race that has been reshaped by redistricting and a primary upset.
Molder raised significant money expecting to face controversial Republican Congressman Andy Ogles in the November mid-term elections.
But Hatcher beat Ogles in the primary, creating a new match-up.
"The opponent may be different, but the issues are the same and the failed policies that have led us into the mess that we have in Washington DC are still there and we want to be part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem," Molder said on Inside Politics.
The race has seen several twists, including a dramatically changed congressional map.
Molder began his campaign in a congressional district that lawmakers redrew as part of the re-redistricting special session in May.
The new map cut Molder's Columbia home out of the 5th Congressional district. Republican Charlie Hatcher's home was also cut out of the district.
The newly drawn 5th District stretches all the way into Memphis.
It includes rural counties touching the Kentucky border and counties along the Mississippi River.
The new district likely contributed to the defeat of Ogles.
Now Molder faces a republican opponent who is a former Commissioner of Agriculture and dairy farmer.
"And what our opponent spoke about on your very show, Ben, was that he supports the same policies that have really gotten us into this mess that we have today," Molder said.
Charlie Hatcher said on Inside Politics that he supports President Trump, who recently endorsed him.
Molder said some of those policies have increased the cost of living.
He opposes tariffs and the war in Iran but is quick to say he is not running against President Trump.
"I'm not going to be an enemy or employee of the President," Molder said.
"In terms of my loyalty, my loyalty is not going to be to any one person. It's going to be to the people of the 5th Congressional district." Molder said.
Molder is currently the mayor of Columbia in conservative Maury County, which President Trump won with more than 70% of the vote.
He pushed back against recent Republican attacks calling all Democrats socialists.
"That rhetoric is dangerous. It is the reason people have lost trust in the system. But then as you know, I'm Mayor of Columbia. I've served two terms now. I grew up here. My values are Tennessee values. I'm not a socialist, I'm a capitalist. We've passed balanced budgets. We've not had property tax increases," Molder said.
My full, unedited interview with Chaz Molder is available on Inside Politics.
The full interview with Charlie Hatcher that aired on Inside Politics is now on our website.
You can listen to both now that Inside Politics is also a podcast.
Just enter Inside Politics Nashville and start listening.
