{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nChuck Fleischmann is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, having assumed office on January 3, 2011 [1]. His current term concludes on January 3, 2027 [1]. In May 2026, he was identified as a candidate for re-election to the U.S. House in Tennessee's 3rd District [15]. He formally declared his candidacy for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nThe general election for this seat is set for November 3, 2026 [14]. Fleischmann has been endorsed by President Donald Trump for the 2026 race [22]. He faces a challenge from Democrat Anna Golladay, who announced her candidacy in February 2026 [19].\n\nRecent developments include the release of Tennessee's newly proposed congressional map on May 6, 2026, which Fleischmann stated he supported despite having no input in its creation [20]. As of early May 2026, no other official candidates had been listed for the general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nCharles Joseph Fleischmann was born in New York City, New York, on October 11, 1962 [13]. He describes himself as a fiscal and social conservative who overcame the loss of his mother at a young age and lived on his own by age 16 [16].\n\nFleischmann earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and received Phi Beta Kappa honors [5][13]. He subsequently attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence [5][13].\n\n## Career\n\nCharles Fleischmann earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science from the University of Illinois, where he received Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude honors [1][5]. He subsequently attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, obtaining his Doctor of Jurisprudence [5]. Following his graduation, he and his wife operated a small business in Chattanooga for 24 years [5]. Fleischmann self-describes as having lived on his own at age 16 after overcoming the loss of his mother during his youth [16].\n\nFleischmann served in the United States Army Reserve [13]. His professional background includes work as an attorney and business owner, experiences he cites as informing his perspective that small businesses are primary drivers of job creation rather than government intervention [17]. He has also pursued writing, releasing his first novel, \"Once Upon An Empire,\" in February 2025 [18].\n\n## Office history\n\nChuck Fleischmann first held elected office in the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee\u2019s 3rd Congressional District, assuming office on January 3, 2011, after succeeding former Representative Zach Wamp [1][13]. He was elected to this seat in 2010 and has since been re-elected multiple times, including a victory in the 2014 Republican primary where he defeated Weston Wamp by less than 1,500 votes [3]. As of May 2026, his current term is scheduled to end on January 3, 2027 [1]. In this role, he serves as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and chairs the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee [4][10]. He also holds leadership positions in several caucuses, including co-chairing the American Energy Dominance Caucus and the Nuclear Cleanup Caucus [10].\n\nPrior to his congressional career, Fleischmann did not hold other elected or appointed public offices; he instead spent 24 years running a small business in Chattanooga with his wife after graduating from law school [5]. He has not lost any general elections for federal office during his tenure. In the upcoming 2026 election cycle, he declared candidacy for re-election to the U.S. House in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. He faces a challenge from Democrat Anna Golladay in the general election on November 3, 2026, following the adoption of new congressional maps by Tennessee state lawmakers in May 2026 [19][20].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs Chairman of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee, Fleischmann has focused heavily on energy policy and infrastructure for East Tennessee [4]. He co-chairs seven energy-related caucuses, including the American Energy Dominance, Nuclear Cleanup, Fusion Energy, National Labs, Advanced Nuclear, and Nuclear Security Working Group caucuses, as well as the Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus [10]. His committee assignments also include the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee and the Defense Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee [10].\n\nFleischmann sponsored H.R. 226, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, which passed the House by a unanimous voice vote after previously passing four times in earlier sessions [6]. The legislation aims to restore 76.1 acres of sacred land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that was taken due to past federal policies [11]. He has also been recognized for his work on the Chickamauga Lock, receiving a \"Friend of the Waterways\" award for his leadership on the project [12].\n\nOn fiscal and social issues, Fleischmann states that he voted to cut $1.6 trillion from the federal budget, repeal ObamaCare, defund Planned Parenthood, and rein in the Environmental Protection Agency [16]. He maintains a self-reported 100% pro-life and Second Amendment voting record [16]. In foreign policy, he was one of two Tennessee Republicans to receive an \"A\" on a report card from the coalition Republicans for Ukraine for his support of aid to Ukraine [21].\n\nFleischmann is noted for his legislative attendance; in 2024, he was one of only 13 House members with perfect voting attendance across all 516 roll call votes that year [9]. He has also advocated for the Electric Power Board (EPB) Solar Share project and partnerships involving the Tennessee Valley Authority to support smart grid solutions in Chattanooga [8].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nFleischmann faced two primary challenges from Weston Wamp, the son of his predecessor Zach Wamp, in the 2012 and 2014 Republican primaries for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District. In the 2012 race, Fleischmann defeated Wamp [3]. The subsequent 2014 rematch was described as \"increasingly heated,\" with Fleischmann ultimately defeating Wamp by a margin of less than 1,500 votes [3].\n\nIn September 2023, a report card from the coalition Republicans for Ukraine gave Fleischmann an \"A\" grade for his support of Ukraine, distinguishing him as one of only two Tennessee Republicans to receive that rating at the time [21]. This stance contrasted with other Tennessee Republicans in the delegation who received lower grades, including \"F\" ratings for Representatives Tim Burchett, Diana Harshbarger, and Andrew Ogles [21].\n\nIn May 2026, Fleischmann stated he had no input into the newly proposed congressional map released by Tennessee Republicans, which altered district boundaries without his involvement [20]. The state became the first to pass new maps following a Supreme Court ruling that removed requirements to consider race when drawing districts, resulting in a map that split the majority Black and only Democrat-held district in three [20].\n\nPresident Donald Trump endorsed Fleischmann for reelection on November 3, 2025, ahead of the August 6, 2026 Republican primary [22]. The endorsement occurred as Fleischmann sought his ninth term in the U.S. House, having assumed office in January 2011 after succeeding Zach Wamp, who had lost the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary [22].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nChuck Fleischmann and his wife Brenda ran a small business in Chattanooga for 24 years after they both graduated from law school [5]. He self-describes as having owned this small business in the Tennessee Valley for years, stating that he knows firsthand that small businesses create jobs rather than the government [17]. The couple met while attending the University of Illinois, where Fleischmann earned a bachelor's degree in political science, before both attended the University of Tennessee College of Law [13].\n\nSpecific details regarding the nature of the business, its revenue, or any sales of ownership stakes are not provided in the available sources. Financial disclosure documents are referenced on his official website but do not contain specific asset values or income breakdowns in the provided text [7].\n\n## Family\n\nChuck Fleischmann was born in New York City in 1962 [13]. He married Brenda Fleischmann in 1986, and the couple has three children [13]. Together, they ran a small business in Chattanooga for 24 years after graduating from college [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Charles Fleischmann - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Charles_Fleischmann)\n[2] [Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee's_3rd_Congressional_District)\n[3] [Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2014 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee's_3rd_Congressional_District_elections,_2014)\n[4] [Congressman Chuck Fleischmann | Representing the 3rd District of Tennessee](https://fleischmann.house.gov/)\n[5] [About Chuck | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann - House.gov](https://fleischmann.house.gov/about-chuck)\n[6] [In the News | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann - House.gov](https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/in-the-news?page=1)\n[7] [Office Locations | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/contact/offices)\n[8] [In the News | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/in-the-news?page=3)\n[9] [Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Highlighted For 100% Voting Attendance In 2024 | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-chuck-fleischmann-highlighted-for-100-voting-attendance-in-2024)\n[10] [Committees and Caucuses | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses)\n[11] [Videos | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/videos)\n[12] [Accomplishments | Congressman Chuck Fleischmann](https://fleischmann.house.gov/about-chuck/accomplishments)\n[13] [Chuck Fleischmann - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Fleischmann)\n[14] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Tennessee)\n[15] [Chuck Fleischmann's Political Summary](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/123456/chuck-fleischmann)\n[16] [Meet Chuck - Chuck Fleischmann for Congress Committee, Inc.](https://www.chuckforcongress.com/meet-chuck)\n[17] [Issues - Chuck Fleischmann for Congress](https://www.chuckforcongress.com/issues)\n[18] [Chattanooga congressman Chuck Fleischmann tries on new title, novelist | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/feb/11/chattanooga-congressman-tries-on-new-title/)\n[19] [Democrat Anna Golladay will challenge Chuck Fleischmann for Congress in 2026 | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/feb/07/democrat-anna-golladay-will-challenge-chuck/)\n[20] [Fleischmann says he\u2019s on board with new congressional map but had no input | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/may/07/fleischmann-says-hes-on-board-with-new/)\n[21] [Opinion: Fleischmann one of only two Tennessee Republicans to get an \u2018A\u2019 on support for Ukraine in report card from new coalition | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/sep/19/opinion-tennessee-fleischmann-gets-a-ukraine-support-tfp/)\n[22] [Trump endorses Fleischmann for reelection in 2026 | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/nov/03/trump-endorses-fleischmann-for-reelection-in-2026/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_3","county":"Anderson","county_count":20,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US House District 3"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Chuck","fullname":"Chuck Fleischmann","lastname":"Fleischmann","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_3","contest_title":"US House District 3","county":"Anderson","county_count":20,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_3","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"us_house_3","contest_title":"US House District 3","county":"Anderson","county_count":20,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_3","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house_3","office_title":"US House District 3","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"","primary":null,"term":{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_3","office_title":"US Representative District 3","party":"","state":"TN","term_end":"2025-01-03","term_start":"2023-01-03"},"year":2023}],"office_key":"us_representative_district_3","office_title":"US Representative District 3","state":"TN","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_3","office_title":"US Representative District 3","party":"","state":"TN","term_end":"2025-01-03","term_start":"2023-01-03"}]}],"summary":"Chuck Fleischmann is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 3rd District, seeking re-election in 2026.","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office":"us_representative_district_3","state":"TN","term_end":"2025-01-03","term_start":"2023-01-03","title":"US Representative District 3"}],"token":"6fcLxPLcvH"}