Exclusive: TN-05 GOP Nominee Charlie Hatcher Details Primary Upset of Trump-Endorsed Andy Ogles, Outlines Four Priorities for Congress

Kaitlin Housler
Charlie Hatcher

Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher discussed his Republican primary upset of Trump-endorsed U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), his relationship with the defeated incumbent, and the issues he said will shape his campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in an exclusive interview Tuesday with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy.

Hatcher defeated Ogles by 6.45 percentage points in the August Republican primary, despite Ogles having received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Trump later endorsed Hatcher for the November general election.

During his interview on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Hatcher described the primary as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” adding that at times it felt as though he was “running against my own party.”

Despite the competitive primary, Hatcher said his relationship with Ogles remained cordial throughout the campaign and praised the incumbent for how he handled the defeat.

“We would speak at the same time,” Hatcher said of their joint appearances. “Very cordial. I never ran any negative campaign against him. And he never personally attacked me.”

Hatcher said Ogles was “extremely gracious” when he called to concede following the election.

“He conceded, said, ‘I’ll help you in any way I can,’” Hatcher said.

“And I said, ‘I’ll accept that,’” he added.

Now facing Democratic nominee Chaz Molder, the mayor of Columbia, in the November 3 general election, Hatcher said four issues stand out based on what he heard from voters while campaigning across the newly redrawn district.

“Number one is cost of living, cost of production,” Hatcher said.

He specifically pointed to diesel prices and rising costs facing farmers and other businesses.

“Since COVID at Hatcher Family Dairy, our cocoa, sugar, bottles, caps have gone up 50 to 300 percent,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher identified infrastructure as his second major issue, citing roads, traffic, water and wastewater systems, and energy.

“Everywhere in the entire state are roads, lack of roads, lack of resurfacing, new roads, all that,” Hatcher said. He also pointed to water and wastewater concerns in Middle Tennessee.

“We may run out of energy. Who would’ve thought that in Tennessee?” Hatcher said.

His third priority is the size and scope of the federal government.

“And the third one is federal government size, too many regulations, lack of a balanced budget, runaway debt, too much intervention in our lives,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher’s fourth priority is food security, an issue closely tied to his background as a dairy farmer, veterinarian, and former agriculture commissioner.

“And then the fourth one for me is food security and national security,” Hatcher said. “That’s one of my issues I’m running on…If we run out of food, [we’re] 72 hours from anarchy.”

Early voting for the November 3 general election begins October 14 and runs through October 29.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.

 

 

 

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