Democrat Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder has reported raising over $1.2 million in his race to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Andy Ogles in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. That amount is nearly twice the combined amount that both Ogles and his Republican primary opponent, Charlie Hatcher, have raised to date.
Ogles reported slightly over $300,000 in year end fundraising through December 31, with an almost exactly equal amount in expenditures.
Hatcher raised $410,000, including a personal donation of $130,943.29. His total reported spending was approximately $250,000.
Molder has reported cash on hand of $977,977.07, which far exceeds the $173,555.89 that Hatcher retains and the paltry $62,080.22 that Ogles has available. (Ogles also reports owing $70,368.75, meaning he is actually below water.)
While the 5th District is a stronghold of Republican votes, the huge fundraising disparity will certainly and properly raise alarm bells in Republican circles, including the Trump White House. Ogles anemic fundraising has been a consistent pattern and has not improved since his last financial report.
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
Pertinaxjak
February 4, 2026 at 9:23 pm
How much of this money is from NGOs (e.g., the taxpayer’s and wealthy billionairs).