Ballot Project

← Back to Lincoln County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06

Contest for US House District 5

primary - Partisan - U.S. Representative

About this office

A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.

Term length: 2 years.

This role calls for

  • Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.
  • Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.
  • Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.
  • Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.
  • Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.

Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.

Campaigns

Democratic Primary 5 candidates
Carrie Ann Iacomini

Carrie Ann Iacomini

Democrat
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Carrie Ann Iacomini resides in Memphis within Tennessee's 5th District and secured her Democratic primary nomination through petition signatures. The biography contains no verified details regarding her education, professional career, or prior elected office. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or oversight judgment experience.
DeVante R. Hill

DeVante R. Hill

Democrat
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DeVante R. Hill's biography shows military service emphasizing logistics and decision-making under pressure, relevant to oversight judgment and constituent service. He discusses federal policy on healthcare, education, and infrastructure, indicating some understanding of district concerns. Bio does not indicate experience in drafting federal statute or building cross-party legislative coalitions.
Rachel Hurley

Rachel Hurley

Democrat
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Rachel Hurley's biography shows thirty years of project management and public relations work, alongside community organizing that engaged 13,000 residents. Her background includes writing for local media and launching digital platforms, demonstrating communication skills relevant to constituent service. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate federal legislative drafting experience or oversight judgment of the executive branch.
Chaz Molder

Chaz Molder

Democrat
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Chaz Molder's biography shows experience in local legislative craft through seven balanced budgets and constituent service as Columbia Mayor since 2018. He demonstrates coalition-building by winning re-election in a heavily Republican county while maintaining bipartisan progress on local issues. The record documents no disciplinary actions or controversies beyond standard campaign rhetoric against an incumbent. Bio does not indicate federal legislative experience or oversight judgment of the executive branch.
Yolanda Cooper-Sutton

Yolanda Cooper-Sutton

Democrat
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Yolanda Cooper-Sutton's biography shows long-term residency in the district and extensive community service, suggesting familiarity with local concerns and constituent needs. Her background as a health care advocate and notary public indicates some capacity for administrative detail. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience drafting federal legislation or building cross-party coalitions at the congressional level.
Republican Primary 2 candidates
Andy Ogles

Andy Ogles

Republican
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Ogles brings federal legislative experience as a U.S. Representative and local governance background as a former county mayor and CEO. His biography documents an investigation into 2022 campaign finance violations that concluded in May 2026 with the return of his phone. Bio does not indicate prior experience drafting complex federal statutes or building cross-party coalitions at the national level.
Charlie Hatcher

Charlie Hatcher

Republican
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Charlie Hatcher's biography shows executive leadership as Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture and State Veterinarian, demonstrating capacity for constituent service and oversight of state resources. He has no documented disciplinary record or legal controversies. Bio does not indicate experience drafting federal statute or building cross-party coalitions in the U.S. House.
Independent 2 candidates
Micheál (Me-Haul) O'Leary

Micheál (Me-Haul) O'Leary

Independent
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O'Leary's biography shows prior executive leadership as a former mayor of Culver City and local business ownership in Nashville, relevant to constituent service and economic understanding. The record notes his criticism of an incumbent for polarizing activity but contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience drafting federal statute or building cross-party coalitions at the U.S. House level.
James A. Johnson

James A. Johnson

Independent
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The biography shows James Johnson is an independent candidate on the ballot for Tennessee's 5th District in the November 2026 general election. It notes he faces one other independent opponent and has not completed a survey or filed campaign finance reports. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or oversight judgment experience.
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