Republican · Tennessee's 5th District · 2026
Charlie Hatcher
Hatcher grew up around his family's dairy in College Grove, spending much of his childhood with his grandfather, a physician.
Biography
Charlie Hatcher's family dairy dates to 1831, and in 2007 the family began bottling its own milk for customers in Middle Tennessee.1 His working life has also included owning a veterinary practice in College Grove and managing other farm businesses in Williamson County.1
Hatcher earned an animal science degree at Middle Tennessee State University and his veterinary degree at the University of Tennessee.1 He became state veterinarian in 2009, with responsibilities involving animal health and the marketability of livestock and animal products.1
He served as Tennessee's agriculture commissioner from 2019 until retiring in 2025, after about a decade as state veterinarian.2 As commissioner, he backed the 2025 Farmland Preservation Act, which created a grant fund supporting farmers who voluntarily protect agricultural land through permanent conservation easements.3 His platform also promises better service and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs and scrutiny of federal agencies for fraud and duplicated programs.4
Hatcher's congressional platform emphasizes agricultural biosecurity, domestic food production and restrictions on farmland purchases by hostile foreign governments or entities they control.4 He supports stronger border enforcement and an energy strategy including natural gas, nuclear power and renewables, while promising less federal regulation and spending.4 Hatcher faces Democrat Chaz Molder and two independents.5
Record and controversies
Department inspection oversight
A September 2025 state audit covering July 2021 through May 2025 found eight of 60 sampled retail food inspections were late, including six establishments in the high risk category.6 Department management cited inspector losses, said it had reassigned staff to the affected region and described developing additional monitoring tools.6 Management also emphasized that the sample could not support statistically valid projections to all inspections statewide.6 The audit classified earlier food inspection and grant monitoring findings as partly resolved, and closed the prior pesticide inspection finding under a new two year inspection standard.6