The Centrist Independent Voter Political Action Committee endorses Chaz Molder in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
Molder offers something increasingly difficult to find in American politics: evidence that he can govern successfully across partisan lines.
He was elected mayor of Columbia in 2018, defeating a two-term incumbent, and was reelected in 2022 against the chairman of the local Republican Party. He accomplished this in Maury County, which Donald Trump carried overwhelmingly. Electoral success in such an environment requires more than mobilizing committed Democrats. It requires earning the confidence of independents and at least some Republican voters.
Molder’s record as mayor provides a stronger reason for supporting him than campaign rhetoric alone. Columbia passed eight balanced budgets without increasing property-tax rates while investing in education, public safety and infrastructure. His administration reports saving taxpayers approximately $10.5 million through improved fiscal management.
His congressional campaign emphasizes government ethics, affordability, healthcare access and practical constituent service. He supports prohibiting members of Congress from trading individual stocks and argues that representatives should concentrate on the everyday concerns of their districts rather than partisan chaos and social-media performance.
Relative to the rest of the Democratic field, Molder presents the strongest combination of qualifications, demonstrated governing ability and general-election credibility. His opponents bring varied professional and community experience, but Molder has already managed a city government, produced balanced budgets and twice persuaded voters in heavily Republican Maury County to elect him mayor.
He has also built by far the most substantial campaign organization and attracted support from people who regard the district as potentially competitive. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee selected him for its Red to Blue program, and former Democratic Representative Jim Cooper has endorsed him. Those endorsements are not themselves sufficient reasons for CIVPAC to support him, but they reinforce the conclusion suggested by his record: Molder is the Democrat best prepared both to serve in Congress and to mount a credible general-election campaign.
The identity of the eventual Republican nominee still matters. Whether Democrats face Andy Ogles or Charlie Hatcher, they will need a candidate capable of reaching well beyond the Democratic base. Molder’s experience winning and governing in Republican territory makes him substantially better suited to that task than the rest of the Democratic field.
Democrats cannot win difficult districts merely by exciting voters who already identify as Democrats. They need candidates capable of persuading people who do not ordinarily vote for them. Chaz Molder’s record suggests that he understands that requirement.
Democratic voters who want both a capable representative and their strongest possible general-election nominee should choose Chaz Molder.
CIVPAC endorses Chaz Molder in the August 6 Democratic primary. CIVPAC will evaluate the general-election nominees after the primaries.
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