Chaz Molder

Chaz Molder is a Democratic candidate running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District [1]. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. The general election for this seat is set for November 3, 2026 [4]. Molder currently serves as the Mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, a position he was first elected to in 2018 and re-elected to in 2022 [6]. Upon his initial election in 2018, he became the youngest mayor in Tennessee at the time and the youngest in Columbia's history [6]. He defeated a two-term incumbent in 2018 and won his 2022 re-election by wide margins against the local chair of the Maury County Republican Party [15]. Molder is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and holds a law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis [19]. He works as an attorney at Mounger & Molder in Columbia [19]. His campaign emphasizes bipartisan problem-solving and unity, positioning himself against incumbent U.S. Representative Andy Ogles [20]. Molder has raised significant funds for his congressional bid, reporting over $1.2 million raised since announcing his candidacy and holding approximately $978,000 in cash on hand as of late 2025 [17]. He faces three other Democratic candidates in the primary: Mike Cortese, Joyce Neal, and Jim Torino [3].

Sources

• [1] Chaz Molder - Ballotpedia
• [2] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District - Ballotpedia
• [3] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 6 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia)
• [4] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [6] About the Mayor | Columbia, TN
• [7] 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee - Wikipedia
• [12] Mayor Chaz Molder (@mayorchazmolder)
• [14] Chaz Molder (@chazmolder) / Posts ...
• [15] Chaz Molder for Congress
• [17] Columbia Mayor Molder holds financial advantage in 5th District race • Tennessee Lookout
• [19] Columbia Mayor Hints at Possible 5th District Run | Pith in the Wind | Nashville News | nashvillescene.com
• [20] Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder Announces Run for Congress - Chaz Molder for Congress

Public filings

Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.

Tennessee — campaign finance

• State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Molder”, and submit.
• Shelby County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — Shelby County Public Campaign Finance Portal. Select the election year and search by candidate name (“Molder”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

• Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Molder”and, if needed, select the applicable position.

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