Federal

U.S. Representative, 5th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

The district's lines were redrawn in May 2026: check your district by address.

Candidates Compare by issue

Charlie Hatcher

Republican

Veterinarian; dairy farmer · College Grove

The gist

Supports an all-of-the-above domestic energy strategy.
Opposes foreign adversaries buying American farmland.
Supports more Border Patrol personnel and technology.
Pledges to fight wasteful federal spending and duplication.
Opposes new federal restrictions on gun ownership.
Supports stronger agricultural biosecurity against foreign disease threats.

More about Charlie

View sources (1)

Supports an all-of-the-above domestic energy strategy.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“Charlie supports an all-of-the-above American energy strategy that includes natural gas, nuclear power, renewables, and other reliable domestic energy sources.”
Opposes foreign adversaries buying American farmland.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“Charlie believes hostile foreign governments and entities controlled by foreign adversaries should not be allowed to buy American farmland”
Supports more Border Patrol personnel and technology.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“providing Border Patrol with the personnel, technology, infrastructure, and resources necessary to do its job”
Pledges to fight wasteful federal spending and duplication.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“He will fight wasteful spending, demand greater accountability from federal agencies, support efforts to eliminate fraud and duplication”
Opposes new federal restrictions on gun ownership.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“oppose efforts by Washington to create unnecessary restrictions on responsible gun ownership”
Supports stronger agricultural biosecurity against foreign disease threats.
Platform — Charlie Hatcher for Congress
Campaign website · Charlie Hatcher for Congress · charliehatcher.com
“strengthen agricultural biosecurity, defend our livestock and crops from foreign disease threats”

Chaz Molder

Democratic

Mayor of Columbia; attorney · Columbia

The gist

Supports banning stock trading by members of Congress.
Supports workers' right to organize and stronger labor protections.
Supports lower health costs and keeping rural hospitals open.
Supports expanding health insurance coverage and preventive care.

More about Chaz

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Supports banning stock trading by members of Congress.
Issues - Chaz Molder for Congress
Campaign website · Molder for Congress · chazmolder.com
“advocating for a ban on stock trading by members of Congress”
Supports workers' right to organize and stronger labor protections.
Issues - Chaz Molder for Congress
Campaign website · Molder for Congress · chazmolder.com
“We also must empower workers by standing up for the right to organize and strengthening labor protections.”
Supports lower health costs and keeping rural hospitals open.
Issues - Chaz Molder for Congress
Campaign website · Molder for Congress · chazmolder.com
“I am committed to fighting for lower healthcare costs and ensuring that our rural hospitals receive the support they need to stay open”
Supports expanding health insurance coverage and preventive care.
Issues - Chaz Molder for Congress
Campaign website · Molder for Congress · chazmolder.com
“We must work to eliminate barriers to care, expand health insurance coverage, and invest in preventive services”

James A. Johnson

Independent

Memphis

The gist

No documented position found.

More about James

Micheál (Me-Haul) O'Leary

Independent

Pub owner; former mayor of Culver City, California · Nashville

The gist

Pledges to publish his official calendar online.
Proposes a network of representatives in all 17 counties.
Pledges to answer to voters rather than a party whip.
Opposes a war Congress never approved.
Supports curtailing data center expansion until impacts are known.
Supports school curricula built around all kinds of jobs.

More about Micheál

View sources (1)

Pledges to publish his official calendar online.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll put my calendar online, public, so people know exactly who I'm meeting with and why.”
Proposes a network of representatives in all 17 counties.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll build a network of representatives in all 17 counties who bring issues straight to me”
Pledges to answer to voters rather than a party whip.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I won't be beholden to a whip, I'm beholden to the people who elected me.”
Opposes a war Congress never approved.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The big driver is a war Congress never approved.”
Supports curtailing data center expansion until impacts are known.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Expansion should be curtailed, not waved through.”
Supports school curricula built around all kinds of jobs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: United States House of Representatives District 5
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Tennessee (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Curriculum should be built around all employment, not just the high-earning tracks.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.