Charlie Hatcher, who stepped down last month as Tennessee’s Agriculture Commissioner, is planning to announce on Wednesday that he will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for the 5th Congressional District.

A Williamson County veterinarian, Hatcher has served nearly seven years as the head of the Agriculture Department for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Hatcher previously worked for a decade as the state veterinarian.

Hatcher has also operated the Hatcher Family Dairy, which has been in his family for six generations. 

Ogles was already expected to face a well-funded challenge from the Democrats next year.  Democrat Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder has already announced and claims to have raised about 3/4 of $1 million for the race at this point. 

Ogle’s poor fundraising has helped make him a target and has also enhanced Hatcher’s prospects in a GOP primary. Ogles’ latest quarterly fundraising report should be posted later this week.

Hatcher, or those seeking to encourage him to run, has been running polls in recent weeks. At least one poll tested issues critical of Ogles, while also testing positives about Hatcher and a potential race by State Representative Scott Cepicky, who lives in Maury County.

Hatcher’s announcement is not a surprise. He is likely to receive the endorsement of Gov. Lee, who endorsed another of his former commissioners in the seventh district special election Republican primary.  Matt Van Epps won that GOP Primary and is now facing Democrat Aftyn Behn on December 2.

President Donald Trump also weighed in for Van Epps in that primary, though after early voting had ended. 

Andy Ogles has been a strong and loyal supporter of President Trump and has received his endorsement in the past. Ogles is likely to receive the Trump endorsement in this Republican primary which would be extremely significant. Ogles is also a member of the House Freedom Caucus that put over $300,000 behind Jody Barrett in his seventh congressional district primary. Congressman Jim Jordan, House judiciary committee chairman, backed Van Epps in that seventh district primary and his PAC put several hundred thousand dollars behind him. Jordan is likely to continue his support of Ogles in this race.

This is a developing story.

Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.