ICYMI: Recent Polling Finds Mayor Chaz Molder Within Striking Distance of Andy Ogles in Newly Gerrymandered Seat

COLUMBIA, TN: Today, a National Journal exclusive detailed a recent survey showing Mayor Chaz Molder within striking distance of Andy Ogles in the newly gerrymandered congressional seat. This follows the Tennessee Legislature’s redrawing of the Congressional maps to secure a 9 to 0 partisan map. 

“The Tennessee Legislature redrew the 5th Congressional District to protect Andy Ogles but they couldn’t change his do-nothing record as Congressman, his lies about his resume and education experience, his failing moral character, or his repeated embarrassment of this district on the national stage,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “As I tell my kids, a good reputation will follow you everywhere you go, a bad reputation will show up before you get there. Andy’s reputation has clearly already followed him to this new district. We’re ready to give TN-05 another option.” 

Additionally, among the 29% of the electorate who can identify both candidates — a group that leans Republican by 10 points on the generic ballot — Molder leads 50% to 46%.  

Read the full report from National Journal here, highlights below:

• “The poll (May 11-13; 558 LVs; +/-4.1%) conducted by Impact Research for Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder (D), the presumptive Democratic nominee, found Ogles leading in a head-to-head, 47%-41% with 12% undecided, in the redrawn district. While outside the poll’s margin of error, Molder is within striking distance of the embattled two-term incumbent.”

• “Molder has the resources to make his case against Ogles. He holds a $1.2 million cash-on-hand advantage according to the latest campaign finance reports. Modler’s campaign started gaining momentum last year and partially inspired Tennessee Republicans to shore up Ogles in their redraw following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v Callais earlier this year.”

• “Apart from a checkbook, Molder has another valuable resource in the form of his father-in-law Craig Fitzhugh, the longtime former leader of statehouse Democrats.”

• “Fitzhugh represented the rural communities just outside of Memphis for decades before retiring in 2019. He’s now the mayor of Ripley, a small town north of Memphis in the new western portions of TN-05. He’s been active on the campaign trail for his son-in-law, leveraging his deep roots in the new parts of the district.”

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