NASHVILLE
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher has scrubbed references to President Donald Trump from his campaign messaging, a striking reversal for a candidate who won his primary on Trump's coattails.
Hatcher, the Republican nominee for Tennessee's 5th congressional district, previously campaigned on a "Pro-Gun. Pro-Life. Pro-Trump" slogan. A Sept. 21 fundraising email displayed a new version: "Pro-Gun. Pro-Life. Pro-Tennessee." The original logo has been removed from his campaign website, along with sections that labeled him a "Trump conservative" and included praise for Trump's work ethic.
The shift reflects a widening gap between Trump's national message and the economic pressures facing rural voters in Hatcher's district. Diesel prices hit $6.53 per gallon this week, according to AAA data, while gasoline averaged $4.48. Farmers in his district, Hatcher said, face daily strain from fuel costs they must absorb across tractors, grain trucks and combines.
"They feel that every day," Hatcher said on the Todd Starnes Show, quoting farmers frustrated by record-high diesel prices.
Hatcher has also broken with the Trump administration on trade. He publicly opposed a recent decision to temporarily slash tariffs on foreign beef imports, saying the rollout was poorly handled and "knocked the legs out of some of the cattlemen." The beef industry, he noted, is a crucial support for dairy farmers in his region.
Hatcher ousted incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles in August's Republican primary—Ogles held Trump's endorsement in that race. Trump later endorsed Hatcher after his primary win, calling him a "Great 'Trump' Candidate."
The Tennessee 5th is a newly drawn district created after the Supreme Court this spring curtailed voting protections under the Voting Rights Act. State Republicans redesigned the lines to favor Republicans; Trump would have carried the redrawn seat by more than 20 points in prior elections. Hatcher faces Democrat Chaz Molder in the general election.
Hatcher served as Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture from Jan. 1, 2019, until his resignation to run for Congress. He is a fifth-generation dairy farmer.
