Hatcher graduated from Morehouse College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature. He later enrolled in Emory University, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree in Theology in 1997.[2]
After graduating from Emory, Hatcher moved to Rye, New York, where he worked as an English teacher at Rye County Day School.[3] After resigning his position in 2015, he moved back to his hometown, Montgomery, Alabama, where he worked in community organization. In 2018, he ran for a position in the Alabama House of Representatives in District 78, which covers downtown Montgomery.[4] He came in 2nd place in the initial Democratic primary election held on June 5, 2018, winning 37.6% of the vote and causing a runoff.[5] In the runoff held 2 months later, Hatcher defeated incumbent Representative Alvin Holmes by 17.4%.[6] Hatcher decisively defeated his independent opponent, Tijuanna Adetunji, in the November general election with 83.4% to her 16.3%.[7] Hatcher's success was backed by several lobbying groups, including the Alabama Education Association, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Alabama Bankers Association, Alabama Forestry Association, and Alabama Rural Electricity Association.[8] After the resignation of Senator David Burkette, Hatcher ran for the empty seat in the Alabama Senate's District 26.[9] He won the initial open primary with 47.9% of votes, although because he did not win a majority of the vote, there had to be a runoff election. In the runoff, Hatcher triumphed over his opponent, John Knight, winning with 74.2% of the vote.[10] In the general election, Hatcher defeated Republican William Green with over 78% of votes cast.[11]
In 2024, Hatcher strongly considered running for United States Representative in the 2nd congressional district (which was redrawn after the Supreme Court case Allen v. Milligan), although he eventually decided not to.[12][13]
Committee Positions
[edit]Hatcher is a member of the Banking and Insurance,[14] Education Policy,[15] Tourism,[16] and Transportation and Energy Committees.[17]
