Chaz Molder packed Hattie Jane’s Creamery on Thursday morning in Columbia to officially launch his campaign for Congress. Surrounded by his family — including his father-in-law, longtime Democratic state Rep. Craig Fitzhugh — Molder, who grew up blocks from the Columbia town square, emphasized his small-town bona fides and took swipes at incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.

“Being a mayor provides a front-row perspective to the needs and challenges our communities face," Molder told the room. "I think Congressman Ogles, in a lot of ways, forgot who sent him there. I think he’s more interested in chasing national headlines for the wrong reasons instead of local headlines for the right reasons.”

By 11 a.m., Molder was juggling media engagements. By 1:30 p.m., he popped up on voters’ phone scree

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