Columbia mayor weighs run as Democrat in 5th Congressional District

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder

By Sam Stockard, Nashville Lookout, July 22, 2025 - Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder confirmed this week he is “strongly considering” entering the 5th Congressional District race as a Democrat, potentially setting up a 2026 race with Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.

If he enters the contest, Molder would join Metro Council member Mike Cortese, who has announced his candidacy and filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, adjunct professor Joyce Neal and healthcare executive Jim Torino in a Democratic primary. Political activist Maryam Abolfazli, who lost to Ogles in 2024, has made overtures about running again. 

... Molder won the Columbia mayoral election in 2018 and captured re-election in 2022. He grew up in Columbia in Middle Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee and University of Memphis law school before returning home and practicing law.

... Cortese is the most visible candidate to enter the race. In an announcement at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual Three Star Dinner, he criticized Republicans and Democrats alike, saying members of both parties have cozied up to special interests instead of representing the working class.

“I’m running to fight for the people who make this country work and just want the damn thing to work for them too,” he said at the event. “The people who make things, fix things, grow things, and keep this whole damn thing running – we’re taking that opportunity back.” (link)

Rod's Comment: I don't know much about Mayor Molder as of yet, but having been elected twice mayor of Columbia is a good credential. A Democrat who has been elected mayor of Columbia in Republican Maury County looks like the kind of Democrat that could mount a viable challenge to Andy Ogles. I am hoping Dems will nominate a sane, sensible, good-government type, old-fashioned moderate liberal, with government experience and not some radical woke progressive activist. I think that type of Dem could mount a viable challenge to Ogles, assuming other factors align.

I tend to think Ogles' future is tied to Trump's popularity. If Trump's approval ratings drop to about 32%, Ogles may be vulnerable, or if some real dirt on Ogles finally sticks, combined with a drop in Trump's popularity that is less 32%, Ogles could be vulnerable. 

Andy Ogles is a despicable humane being, ethically challenged, and an embarrassing Trump suck-up. He needs to be defeated. Of course, my preference would be that a solid conservative, normie Republican would primary Ogles, and then the Republican would keep the seat in the Republican column. Unfortunately, unless Trump's popularity falls sharply,  I doubt Ogles could be defeated in a Republican primary. 

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