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 in the Nov. 3 general election.
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, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: College Grove, Tennessee
- Occupation: Livestock veterinarian and owner of Hatcher Family Dairy
- Background: Hatcher describes himself as a fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer living on land his family has worked for over 200 years, according to his campaign website. He says he started eight businesses, including the Hatcher Family Dairy. He is also the founder of Rock-N-Country Veterinary Services, a four-veterinarian practice in College Grove. He describes himself as an author and Christian family man.
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.
On the issues
Hatcher has outlined positions on two policy areas through his campaign website and social media accounts. Both statements are the candidate's own.
Second Amendment: Hatcher said he is "a strong supporter of the Second Amendment" and pledged to "stand firm in protecting the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms," according to his campaign's X account. He called constitutional rights "not negotiable."
Small business, taxes and regulation: Hatcher said on his campaign website that he will fight for small businesses, lower taxes, less unnecessary regulation and "an economy that rewards hard work, investment, and entrepreneurship."
Endorsements
Hatcher received endorsements from three prominent Republican figures, according to news coverage of his primary campaign:
- Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee, endorsed Hatcher in the days leading up to the Aug. 6 Republican primary, according to the Tennessee Lookout.
- Sonny Perdue, former Trump cabinet member, supported Hatcher's campaign, according to the Nashville Banner.
- Bill Haslam, former Tennessee governor, supported Hatcher's campaign, according to the Nashville Banner.
This profile is based on the reviewed candidate profile packet, campaign materials, BallotReady data and published news coverage. Policy positions reflect the candidate's own statements.
