Columbia Mayor Molder announces run for Rep. Ogles' seat

Driving the news: Molder announced his long-rumored candidacy in a press event at Hattie Jane's ice cream shop in downtown Columbia.

• The thriving public square represents a compelling sales pitch for Molder. Columbia is growing and Molder, an attorney, appears to have high approval ratings.

State of play: Molder is the second Democrat to enter the race. Nashville Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese announced his campaign earlier this summer.

• Ogles has been dogged by a financial scandal since he was elected in 2022. The District 5 House seat was a Democratic stronghold in Nashville for over a century, but Republicans gerrymandered the district to include more rural and suburban areas.

What we're watching: Ogles is the former Maury County mayor, which includes Columbia.

• If he wins the primary, Molder could take a bite out of Ogles' base in Maury County and run up the margins in Democratic-heavy Davidson County.

The bottom line: In a sign the seat may be in play, the national Democratic Party is investing in unseating Ogles.

• It's the first time in recent Tennessee political history the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted an incumbent Republican.