Columbia mayor wins Democratic primary for Ogles seat in Tennessee

Campaign Columbia mayor wins Democratic primary for Ogles seat in Tennessee Comments: by Ryan Mancini - 08/06/26 10:09 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Ryan Mancini - 08/06/26 10:09 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder (D), one of three Democrats seeking to unseat Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, is projected to advance to facwe the incumbent in the November general election, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Molder won the Democratic primary against former educator Carrie Ann Iacomini, Memphis City Council member Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, writer Rachel Hurley and local activist Devante R. Hill.

The district went from being a likely win for Ogles, endorsed by President Trump and a fervent supporter of the president, to becoming solid red due to GOP-led redistricting, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Democrats touting Molder suffered a blow when Gov. Bill Lee (R) approved the redrawn House map in May. The new map gives Ogles the edge over Molder, while Rep. Steve Cohen’s (D-Tenn.) 9th District shifts from solid Democrat to solid Republican.

Molder has significantly outraised Ogles, leading all candidates in fundraising with nearly $2.6 million, while Ogles raised over $600,000, according to the Federal Election Commission’s data.

Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) endorsed Molder, telling voters in July that the district needs someone “focused on results, not theatrics.” He noted that “Chaz is a problem-solver” and a “uniter.”

“I’m ready for the Congress to ditch the theatrics and start doing something about the real challenges that face Tennesseans,” Bredesen said in his endorsement. “Especially the cost of groceries, housing and health care.”

Cohen and former Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), who both represented parts of Memphis and Nashville before the recent GOP-led redistricting battle, as well as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, have endorsed Molder.

Molder told Action News 5, a Memphis-based news outlet, in July that he was initially angry about Lee approving the legislature’s new congressional map.

“But then when I realized that I had an opportunity to represent places like Ripley, Tennessee, places like Martin, places like Franklin and then places like Memphis, a city that I know and love so well, this really was all of a sudden very exciting for me,” he said, adding that he would be “a champion for all of the counties in our district and frankly, for all of Tennessee.”

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