Editor’s notebook: A look at Tennessee’s primary election

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As a news organization that exclusively covers politics and policy, the staff of the Tennessee Lookout lives for Election Days like Thursday’s primary. To use a sports analogy, it’s not quite the Super Bowl — that comes on the Nov. 5 federal election — but it’s at least the AFC and NFC championship games. 

We’ll give you the lowdown on top of the ticket races, like the four-way Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate and the only contested congressional primary, the race between well-funded Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston and first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. 

Even for a statewide news outlet like the Lookout, covering every down-ballot race — 23 contested state House races and eight contested Senate races — is impossible. So we’ll be looking at the most competitive of each and the issues influencing the election. 

We’d like to share our game plan for covering the election with you, and give you an overview of what you can expect from us. 

School vouchers

After Gov. Bill Lee’s universal private school voucher plan failed during the last legislative session, he announced he would try again in the upcoming session. As Adam Friedman has reported, several national pro-voucher organizations have spent millions in “dark money” — the groups use a governing structure that allows them to hide who many of their donors are — to back incumbents and candidates favorable to vouchers. 

Gov. Bill Lee

Lee has endorsed a host of pro-voucher incumbents and candidates, but the outcome of those races will be as much of a referendum on Lee as on vouchers. 

Of particular note is the House 65 race, Lee’s home district in Williamson County. The governor has endorsed political newcomer Lee Reeves, who favors vouchers and has received nearly $1 million in outside support from voucher groups. Williamson County has the best public school system in the state, a reason many families live there. 

Brian Beathard, a four-term county commissioner backed by retiring Rep. Sam Whitson and a host of other Republican elected officials, has been less than full-throated in his views on vouchers, but a win by Beathard would be a loss for Lee’s credibility. 

Hot Senate races

Gallatin Sen. Ferrell Haile is leaning into conservative talking points as he tries to beat back a challenge from Chris Spencer, co-founder of the Sumner County Constitutional Republicans. Haile’s ads highlight immigration issues, which have little practical impact on Tennessee voters but appeal to the Republican base. 

All political eyes are on the East Tennessee matchup between Sen. Jon Lundberg and first-time candidate Bobby Harshbarger, nephew of 1st District U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a Trump loyalist. The issue doesn’t appear to be school vouchers: Lundberg negotiated the Senate version of Lee’s plan. 

The Lundberg-Harshbarger race has been one of the most hostile of the election cycle. 

Meanwhile, in House races . . .

One of the more interesting primaries on the House side is the contest between GOP Rep. Patsy Hazlewood of Signal Mountain and challenger Michelle Reneau, a Constitutional Republican. 

Democrats also have a few primaries in play, including the race in Memphis to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Dwayne Thompson in District 96. Gabby Salinas, who lost to former Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey by about 1%, has been endorsed by Thompson. But in a five-way, low turnout primary, she’s not a shoo-in. 

• Nashville’s House District 60 features a match-up between Shaundelle Brooks, a longtime gun safety advocate who came to politics after her son was murdered in a 2018 mass shooting at Nashville Waffle House, and neighborhood activist Tyler Brasher. The race has engendered bad blood between supporters of both candidates, as accusations of racism have been thrown — Brooks is Black — and questions raised about financial disclosures. 

• In Knoxville, Rep. Sam McKenzie, chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, will try to beat back a challenge from former Knox County Commissioner Dasha Lundy, who has received support from school voucher organizations.

Of course, there are other races we’ll cover. While we can’t get to them all, we promise to do our best to bring you fast and accurate coverage on the winners that will shape Tennessee policy over the next few years. 

See you on Election Day.