Chaz Molder

Democrat

Mayor of Columbia, TN

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

R2B

PIP Political Integrity Pledge · Political Integrity PAC

No Corporate PAC Money
Stock Trading Ban
Lobbying Ban for Former Members
Overturn Citizens United

Primary: August 2026 Last updated 2026-04-28

50.1%

+0.5 from Political Integrity Pledge

Top positive drivers

T1 Mayor since 2018; campaign events open to public; active social media; committed to being available member of Congress. 3.75/4
T25 7 balanced budgets matches fiscal rhetoric; beat incumbent as mayor; $10.5M savings matches claims. 3.75/4
T10 Plain language: lower costs, bigger paychecks; fertilizer prices up 40%; household-level framing. 3.50/4

Top negative drivers

T2 No proactive financial disclosure beyond legal requirements. No tax returns released. 0/4
T15 No AI or technology transparency positions found. 0/4
T19 No positions on redistricting, election audits, voting rights, or ballot access. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

T1 Mayor since 2018; campaign events open to public; active social media; committed to being available member of Congress. 3.75/4
T2 No proactive financial disclosure beyond legal requirements. No tax returns released. 0/4
T3 Advocates for stock trading ban. No specific legislation named or personal divestment. 2.88/4
T4 Mix of small-dollar and larger individual donors; $1.2M+ raised; no corporate PAC rejection pledge found. 2.88/4
T5 FEC filings available; notable donors listed in press. No proactive donor breakdown on website. 2.25/4
T6 Issues page; media interviews (TN Holler, MeidasTouch, Nashville Banner, Nashville Scene, Axios, WSMV). 2.88/4
T7 10+ media appearances: TN Holler, MeidasTouch, Nashville Banner, Nashville Scene, Axios, WSMV, TN Lookout. 3.13/4
T8 DCCC Red to Blue; Future Forum PAC. No VoteSmart Political Courage Test or Ballotpedia survey completed. 1/4
T9 Active social media (X, Facebook, Instagram); campaign website with news; media interviews. 2.88/4
T10 Plain language: lower costs, bigger paychecks; fertilizer prices up 40%; household-level framing. 3.50/4
T11 Committed to lower healthcare costs; rural hospital support. No specific price transparency mechanisms. 2.25/4
T12 Mentions housing as cost concern. No specific transparency tools. 1/4
T13 Discusses affordability broadly. No specific consumer cost disclosure mechanisms. 1/4
T14 Criticizes OBBBA debt increase; 7 balanced budgets demonstrate spending awareness. 2.88/4
T15 No AI or technology transparency positions found. 0/4
T16 Supports local law enforcement. No specific accountability mechanisms. 1/4
T17 System is broken, failure of both parties. No specific transparency mechanisms. 1/4
T18 Invested in education as mayor. No specific transparency mechanisms. 1/4
T19 No positions on redistricting, election audits, voting rights, or ballot access. 0/4
T20 Stock trading ban; criticizes opponent ethics/finance scandals; 7 balanced budgets. 2.88/4
T21 10+ media interviews since campaign launch; accessible as mayor; pledges to be available. 3.13/4
T22 No fact-checker coverage. Claims about OBBBA appear consistent with independent analysis. No false claims found. 2.63/4
T23 No whistleblower protection positions found. 0/4
T24 No FOIA reform, open data, or classification reform positions found. 0/4
T25 7 balanced budgets matches fiscal rhetoric; beat incumbent as mayor; $10.5M savings matches claims. 3.75/4

55.1%

Top positive drivers

E6 Beat 2-term incumbent for mayor; re-elected against GOP chair; $1.2M+ raised; 7 budgets; $124.6M CIP; $10.5M savings. 4/4
E9 Youngest mayor in TN history; 7 balanced budgets; $10.5M savings; saved aquatic center; Youth Council; $124.6M CIP. 4/4
E4 Saved aquatic center; Youth Council (4+ years); $124.6M CIP; 7 balanced budgets; infrastructure investments. 3.75/4

Top negative drivers

E5 No technology modernization positions found. 0/4
E13 No energy system efficiency positions found. 0/4
E20 No national security cost-effectiveness positions found. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

E1 7 balanced budgets (measurable); $10.5M savings (quantified); no property tax increases (measurable). 2.88/4
E2 Cites fertilizer prices up 40%; 30K losing Medicare under OBBBA; attorney background. 2.88/4
E3 General stance on government working for people. No specific evaluation proposals. 1/4
E4 Saved aquatic center; Youth Council (4+ years); $124.6M CIP; 7 balanced budgets; infrastructure investments. 3.75/4
E5 No technology modernization positions found. 0/4
E6 Beat 2-term incumbent for mayor; re-elected against GOP chair; $1.2M+ raised; 7 budgets; $124.6M CIP; $10.5M savings. 4/4
E7 Won bipartisan support as Democrat mayor in Republican Columbia; worked with city council; public/private housing partnership. 3.75/4
E8 7 balanced budgets; managed $124.6M CIP; phased infrastructure projects. 2.88/4
E9 Youngest mayor in TN history; 7 balanced budgets; $10.5M savings; saved aquatic center; Youth Council; $124.6M CIP. 4/4
E10 Stock trading ban; general government reform orientation. 2.25/4
E11 Lower healthcare costs; rural hospital support. No specific efficiency mechanisms. 2.25/4
E12 Housing mentioned; public/private partnership as mayor. No federal proposals. 1/4
E13 No energy system efficiency positions found. 0/4
E14 Calls system broken. No specific efficiency mechanisms. 1/4
E15 Invested in education as mayor; defends public schools; wife is former teacher. 2.25/4
E16 Invested in public safety as mayor. No specific evidence-based programs named. 2.25/4
E17 Right to organize; labor protections; bigger paychecks. No specific programs. 2.25/4
E18 7 balanced budgets; no property tax increases; $10.5M savings; criticizes OBBBA debt increase. 3.13/4
E19 $124.6M CIP: street resurfacing, intersection improvements, bridge replacements, wastewater plant, public works. 3.75/4
E20 No national security cost-effectiveness positions found. 0/4
E21 General responsive government stance. No specific processing targets. 1/4
E22 7 balanced budgets; no property tax increases; $10.5M savings; criticizes OBBBA for increasing debt. 3.75/4
E23 No positions on GAO/IG recommendations or audit follow-through. 0/4
E24 Argues opponent had 4 years to solve problems; ran against incumbent promising change. 2.88/4
E25 No agency oversight positions found. 0/4

54.4%

Top positive drivers

A1 Campaign centered on affordability; fertilizer up 40%; families feeling the squeeze; engaging farmers, families, seniors. 3.75/4
A10 Affordability is THE central campaign theme; issues page led by economy/affordability. 3.75/4
A21 7 balanced budgets, no tax increases, $10.5M savings, infrastructure investments all match rhetoric. 3.75/4

Top negative drivers

A4 No antitrust, monopoly, or competition positions found. 0/4
A8 No corporate accountability positions found. 0/4
A15 No consumer protection positions found. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

A1 Campaign centered on affordability; fertilizer up 40%; families feeling the squeeze; engaging farmers, families, seniors. 3.75/4
A2 30K losing Medicare under OBBBA; fertilizer up 40%; balanced budget data; $10.5M savings. 2.88/4
A3 Saved aquatic center; Youth Council; infrastructure investments; no property tax increases. 3.13/4
A4 No antitrust, monopoly, or competition positions found. 0/4
A5 Tax breaks for middle class are temporary, permanent for billionaires; 30K losing Medicare; fertilizer up 40%. 2.88/4
A6 Campaign launched responding to rising costs; criticizes OBBBA; speaks to farmers about fertilizer costs. 2.88/4
A7 Criticizes tax cuts for billionaires; 7 balanced budgets redirected to education/safety/infrastructure. 2.25/4
A8 No corporate accountability positions found. 0/4
A9 Make life more affordable for Tennessee families, farmers, and seniors; lower everyday expenses; bigger paychecks. 3.50/4
A10 Affordability is THE central campaign theme; issues page led by economy/affordability. 3.75/4
A11 Lower healthcare costs; rural hospital support; criticizes OBBBA cuts; 30K losing Medicare. 2.88/4
A12 Housing mentioned; public/private partnership as mayor. No federal proposals. 1/4
A13 Invested in education as mayor. No specific education affordability proposals. 1/4
A14 Criticizes permanent billionaire tax cuts vs temporary middle class; implies support for middle-class relief. 2.88/4
A15 No consumer protection positions found. 0/4
A16 Right to organize; bigger paychecks. No specific wage targets. 2.25/4
A17 Mentions grocery prices. No specific food affordability proposals. 1/4
A18 No energy affordability positions found. 0/4
A19 No transportation affordability positions found. 0/4
A20 Connects healthcare, housing, groceries; opposes OBBBA across multiple fronts; balanced budgets. 2.88/4
A21 7 balanced budgets, no tax increases, $10.5M savings, infrastructure investments all match rhetoric. 3.75/4
A22 Criticizes OBBBA for cutting 30K from Medicare; opposes healthcare cuts; defends public schools. 2.88/4
A23 Families, farmers, and seniors; rural healthcare challenges. 2.88/4
A24 Families, workers, farmers, seniors, rural communities. 2.88/4
A25 DCCC Red to Blue; Future Forum PAC. No affordability-specific org ratings. 1/4

Scored from publicly available information. Research in progress.

Platform research is in progress.

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

Scored on publicly available information only — platform statements, prior office, news coverage. Same criteria as the Questionnaire pathway, without direct candidate input.

Scoring Summary

Axis	Base	Pledge Bonus	Final
Transparency	50.1%	+0.5	50.6%
Efficiency	55.1%	—	55.1%
Affordability	54.4%	—	54.4%
Overall TEA	Average of the three axes		53.2%

Read the full methodology →

Financial Breakdown

Financial detail — individual giving, PAC contributions, transfers, and personal finances — will appear here when FEC data ingestion ships. This tab is reserved so the layout stays consistent when the feature launches.