U.S. House, Tennessee 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District?
Charlie Hatcher has the strongest record in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. Charlie Hatcher and Chaz Molder each score 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Charlie Hatcher ranks first on the tiebreakers (character score, then total points earned). Charlie Hatcher's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Chaz Molder's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. James A. Johnson (0 of 15 criteria) and Micheal O'Leary (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Charlie Hatcher
53 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Independent
James A. Johnson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Chaz Molder
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Micheal O'Leary
On the ballot as Micheál (Me-Haul) O'Leary
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Charlie Hatcher
- On the record2026-08-25
After President Trump endorsed him, publicly asked the administration to disclose where imported beef would come from and how it would be inspected.
Sources: WPLN News, Aug. 25, 2026, Nashville Banner via Chattanooga Times Free Press, Oct. 3, 2026
- Credit2025-09-03
Retired as Tennessee commissioner of agriculture in 2025 after nearly seven years in the post and more than 21 years of state service, per the governor's office.
- Credit2020-11-19
Received the 2020 Alumni Award of the Tennessee Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the International Honor Society of Agriculture, while serving as state agriculture commissioner.
- Credit
Has served as president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials and the U.S. Animal Health Association.
Source: Main Street Maury, June 8, 2026
James A. Johnson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Chaz Molder
- On the record2026-05-08
Joined U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, state Rep. Justin Pearson, candidate Chaney Mosley and the Tennessee Democratic Party in a federal suit seeking to bar use of the new congressional map in 2026.
Source: Nashville Banner, May 8, 2026
Micheal O'Leary
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Charlie Hatcher. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026, and House candidate financial disclosures for 2025 and 2026 are on file. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082718, FEC administrative fines search
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026, and House candidate financial disclosures were filed for 2025 and 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082710, FEC administrative fines search
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Charlie Hatcher. In August 2026, after President Trump endorsed him, publicly questioned the administration's plan to import more beef and asked it to say where the beef would come from and how it would be inspected.
Sources: WPLN News, Aug. 25, 2026, Nashville Banner via Chattanooga Times Free Press, Oct. 3, 2026
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Charlie Hatcher. Said in September 2026 he is open to debating his opponent if a time can be agreed; no date was set as of Oct. 7. Has spoken at public events including a Williamson County Republican Party gathering in April 2026.
Sources: Tennessee Lookout via Yahoo, Sept. 10, 2026, The Tennessean, Oct. 7, 2026, Williamson Herald
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Challenged his opponent to three debates across the district in September 2026; both have said they are willing, with no date set as of Oct. 7. Launched his general election campaign at a public event in Memphis.
Sources: Tennessee Lookout via Yahoo, Sept. 10, 2026, The Tennessean, Oct. 7, 2026, Action News 5, Aug. 7, 2026
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Charlie Hatcher. State veterinarian from 2009 and Tennessee commissioner of agriculture from January 2019 to September 2025. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: MTSU News, Dec. 4, 2018, Ballotpedia, Charlie Hatcher
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Two-term mayor of Columbia since 2018 and a practicing attorney. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Charlie Hatcher. Served in sworn state office as commissioner of agriculture from 2019 to 2025 after a decade as state veterinarian. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Has held sworn office as mayor of Columbia since 2018. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Sources: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Chaz Molder (candidate survey)
Micheal O'Leary. Former mayor of Culver City, California. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Charlie Hatcher. Tennessee commissioner of agriculture, a cabinet post, from 2019 to 2025, state veterinarian from 2009, and a veterinarian and dairy farmer.
Sources: Office of the Governor, Sept. 3, 2025, MTSU News, Dec. 4, 2018
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Mayor of Columbia since 2018, re-elected in 2022, and a practicing attorney.
Sources: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Chaz Molder (candidate survey)
Micheal O'Leary. Former mayor of Culver City, California, and owner of The Lost Paddy Irish Pub in South Nashville.
Source: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Charlie Hatcher. Lists priorities in interviews: living expenses and inflation, infrastructure, food, water and energy, regulatory burdens and the national debt, in general terms.
Source: Main Street Maury, June 8, 2026
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Publishes positions on cost of living, health care and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Charlie Hatcher. Publishes a campaign site statement quoted by Ballotpedia and has given issue interviews to state outlets. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Charlie Hatcher
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes plain-language issue pages and offers an email list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chaz Molder, Campaign site, Issues, Campaign site, home page
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Charlie Hatcher. Lives on his family's farm in Williamson County, where his family has lived since 1819, but the 2026 map placed his home outside the 5th District, per two outlets. About 93 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Tennessee.
Sources: NewsChannel 5 Nashville, Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026, Main Street Maury, June 8, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Raised in Columbia and lives there, but the 2026 map moved his Columbia home out of the 5th District, per two outlets. FEC by-state totals show about 82 percent of itemized individual contributions from Tennessee.
Sources: NewsChannel 5 Nashville, Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Micheal O'Leary. The SOS candidate list gives his city as Nashville, and the redrawn 5th District no longer includes any part of Nashville; the Banner reports none of the nominees lives in the district.
Source: Nashville Banner, Oct. 2, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Charlie Hatcher. Led the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as commissioner for nearly seven years; the department's fiscal 2025 to 2026 budget was $302.8 million. Campaign reports on file with no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: Office of the Governor, Sept. 3, 2025, Ballotpedia, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, FEC administrative fines search
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Charlie Hatcher. No public record found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Charlie Hatcher. No public record found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Charlie Hatcher. No public record found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Charlie Hatcher. No public record found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Charlie Hatcher. No public record found.
James A. Johnson. No public record found.
Chaz Molder. No public record found.
Micheal O'Leary. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District?
Charlie Hatcher has the strongest record in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. Charlie Hatcher and Chaz Molder each score 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Charlie Hatcher ranks first on the tiebreakers (character score, then total points earned). Charlie Hatcher's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Chaz Molder's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. James A. Johnson (0 of 15 criteria) and Micheal O'Leary (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in 2026?
Charlie Hatcher (Republican), James A. Johnson (Independent), Chaz Molder (Democratic), Micheal O'Leary (Independent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Charlie Hatcher a good candidate for Congress?
Charlie Hatcher scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is James A. Johnson a good candidate for Congress?
James A. Johnson has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Chaz Molder a good candidate for Congress?
Chaz Molder scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Micheal O'Leary a good candidate for Congress?
Micheal O'Leary has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Tennessee race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Tennessee 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.