Chaz Molder wins Democratic nomination for District 5 congressional race

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder will be the Democratic nominee for Tennessee’s new 5th Congressional District seat.

The district now spans 17 counties from Memphis to the Kentucky line and into Middle Tennessee.

Molder said that while he disagreed with the redistricting measures that took place, it gave him a chance to campaign for the statewide race.

“Initially when this happened, I was angry because I thought what the legislature did was wrong,” Molder said. “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.”

Molder said the district needs a representative who understands all 17 counties.

“It wouldn’t have mattered where they put the lines on a map,” he said. “I’m going to be a champion for all of the counties in our district and frankly, for all of Tennessee.”

Molder will go head-to-head with Republican candidate Charlie Hatcher in November’s general election for the seat.

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