Charlie Hatcher

Charlie Hatcher is a Republican candidate running for U.S. House in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District during the 2026 election cycle [1]. He is challenging incumbent Andy Ogles in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [4]. Hatcher previously served as the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture from January 1, 2019, until his retirement on September 30, 2025 [1]. He was appointed to this role by Governor Bill Lee in December 2018 and sworn in early 2019 [9]. Prior to becoming commissioner, Hatcher served as the State Veterinarian for ten years [1].

A fifth-generation Tennessee farmer and tenth-generation American farmer, Hatcher operates a dairy farm in College Grove that was established by his family in 1847 [1]. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a B.S. in Animal Science from Middle Tennessee State University [1]. His professional background includes over 20 years in veterinary practice and leadership roles in national agricultural organizations, including past presidency of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials [1]. He has also served on the University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees and the Tennessee Board of Regents [1].

Hatcher announced his congressional candidacy in 2025, positioning himself as a problem-solver with a "work-hard mentality" derived from his farming background [17]. His campaign platform emphasizes pro-gun, pro-life, and pro-Trump stances, along with the slogan "Farm Strong" [18]. According to Federal Election Commission data reported by Ballotpedia, Hatcher raised $545,994 and spent $331,991 as of March 31, 2026 [4]. His campaign website is charliehatcher.com [18].

Sources

• [1] Charlie Hatcher - Ballotpedia
• [2] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District - Ballotpedia
• [3] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [4] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 6 Republican primary) - Ballotpedia)
• [5] United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [6] Chaz Molder - Ballotpedia
• [8] HATCHER, CHARLIE - Candidate overview - FEC.gov
• [9] Gov. Lee Announces Key Leadership Transition at TN Department of Agriculture
• [10] 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee - Wikipedia
• [13] Dr. Charlie Hatcher, Ag Commissioner for TN
• [14] Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher ...
• [16] Charlie Hatcher | Outstanding in Their Field
• [17] Charlie Hatcher announces candidacy for Congress | Communities | williamsonherald.com
• [18] Charlie Hatcher – Pro-Gun. Pro-Life. Pro-Trump. Farm Strong.
• [19] Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Honored by UT Honor Society | Institute News
• [20] Charlie Hatcher to challenge Andy Ogles in 2026 primary - Nashville Banner

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 “Hatcher”, 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 (“Hatcher”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

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

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