Republican congressional nominee Charlie Hatcher told thousands of rally-goers to wait out record diesel prices, tying the fuel crisis to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

"I know we are facing fierce economic headwinds. Just give it a little time. We'll get that taken care of," Hatcher said at President Donald Trump's midterm rally inside Clarksville's F&M Bank Arena on Saturday, Oct. 10, as first reported by the Williamson Scene.

The race is tight. And diesel prices are squeezing the district.

The national average for diesel topped $6.51 per gallon, according to AAA data reported by NPR. The previous record of $5.85 per gallon was broken earlier in the month. The price spike stems largely from the closure of oil routes tied to the eight-month-old war with Iran.

Hatcher, a Williamson County dairy farmer who founded the Hatcher Family Dairy and served as Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture from 2019 to 2025, told reporters after the rally that he supports Trump's executive order for emergency tax relief on dyed diesel fuel. He also backed Trump's negotiations with Russia to import diesel, calling it potentially the most effective relief measure, the Williamson Scene reported.

Hatcher said the war aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to break its grip on global oil markets. Trump initially promoted the conflict as a weeks-long operation. It has lasted eight months and resulted in deaths and injuries of U.S. service members, according to the Williamson Scene.

Primary upset, rally stage

Hatcher defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the Aug. 6 Republican primary, winning 53.2% to Ogles' 46.8%, according to Ballotpedia. He carried about 55% of the vote in Williamson County, according to the Tennessee Lookout.

Trump had endorsed Ogles before the primary. After Ogles lost, Trump flipped his endorsement to Hatcher, calling him a "Great Trump Candidate," the Tennessee Lookout reported. Two weeks after the primary win, Hatcher publicly questioned Trump's move to import tariff-free foreign beef and quietly removed the phrase "Pro-Trump" from his campaign website, the Williamson Scene reported.

At the Clarksville rally, Ogles sat on the sideline while Hatcher took the stage.

General election ahead

Hatcher faces Democrat Chaz Molder, the mayor of Columbia, in the Nov. 3 general election. A poll commissioned by Molder's campaign and conducted by Impact Research showed Hatcher leading 46% to 41% among 552 likely voters, with a 4.2-point margin of error, the Columbia Daily Herald reported. That same poll found 51% of 5th District voters disapproved of Trump.

No response from Molder's campaign to Hatcher's rally remarks appears in available public records as of publication.

Early voting in Williamson County begins Wednesday, Oct. 14, and runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Spring Hill residents can vote early at the Longview Recreation Center, 2909 Commonwealth Dr.