Charlie Hatcher, a Republican veterinarian and dairy farmer from College Grove, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Hatcher won the Republican primary on Aug. 6, defeating Andy Ogles, as the Nashville Banner reported. He faces Democrat Chaz Molder and independents James A. Johnson and Micheál O'Leary in the general election, according to BallotReady.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: College Grove, Tennessee
  • Background: Fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer, Hatcher said on his campaign website that his family has worked the same land for over 200 years. He said he has started eight businesses, including the Hatcher Family Dairy. He is also an author and describes himself as a Christian family man, according to his campaign site.

Experience and public service

Hatcher served as Tennessee's commissioner of agriculture from 2019 to 2025, according to the Nashville Banner. He previously served as state veterinarian at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

He founded Rock-N-Country Veterinary Services, a four-veterinarian practice in College Grove. He continues to work as a livestock veterinarian and operate Hatcher Family Dairy, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

Hatcher has outlined positions on two policy areas through his campaign website and social media accounts. The descriptions below reflect the candidate's own stated positions.

Second Amendment: Hatcher said he is "a strong supporter of the Second Amendment" and pledged to protect the right to keep and bear arms in Congress, according to his campaign's account on X.

Small business, taxes and regulation: Hatcher said on his campaign website that he would fight for small businesses, lower taxes, less unnecessary regulation and "an economy that rewards hard work, investment, and entrepreneurship."

Endorsements

Hatcher received endorsements from Gov. Bill Lee, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Lee endorsed Hatcher's campaign in the days leading up to the Aug. 6 Republican primary, according to the Tennessee Lookout. Haslam and Perdue also supported Hatcher's campaign, according to the Nashville Banner.

Candidate information was gathered from the candidate's campaign website, social media accounts, public records and news coverage. The Franklin Beacon did not interview the candidate for this profile.