Tennessee

Tennessee state House sees no major party shifts after 2024 election

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

Tennessee state House sees no major party shifts after 2024 election

Tennessee Republicans continued to hold a grip on legislative politics in Tennessee with a wave of House victories across the state Tuesday night, though it was an election night more defined by the status quo as both parties maintained their numbers in the House.

Democrats sought to capitalize on a turbulent two years in House politics and claw back a few seats from the GOP’s 75-member a supermajority in the 99-seat House. Democrats eyed bids to flip some of the five competitive seats in Knox, Montgomery, Shelby and Rutherford counties.

Republicans, meanwhile, eyed potential gains in Montgomery and Davidson counties.

In the end, none of those results materialized, for either party. Instead, each party managed to hold on to a handful of open seats.

In House District 67, incumbent Rep. Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville, clung to his seat by less than 130 votes, narrowly holding off Republican challenger Jamie Pelz.

Another close race in the Montgomery County area was the House District 75 race, where first-time candidate Allie Phillips challenged incumbent Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville.

Phillips, who was inspired to run for office after a personal experience with abortion access and pregnancy loss, ran a heavy ground game and garnered substantial donations in one of the more vulnerable districts in the state.

But Burkhart was able to hold on, leading Phillips by about 700 votes as of 9:30 p.m., maintaing the seat for Republicans.

In Nashville’s House District 60, gun safety advocate Shaundelle Brooks narrowly defeated former Republican legislative aide Chad Bobo, who received financial backing from more than a dozen sitting GOP lawmakers in an effort to flip the open Davidson County seat.

Brooks led with about 55% of the vote to Bobo’s 45%.

Here’s a look at other contested legislative races, according to unofficial results as of early Wednesday morning.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 3

Incumbent Rep. Timothy Aaron Hill, R-Blountville, won reelection against Democrat Lori Love.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 5

Incumbent Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, won reelection against independent candidate Rebecca Anderson.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 6

Incumbent Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, won reelection against Democrat Brad Batt.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 7

Incumbent Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, won reelection against Democrat Sylvain Bruni.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, won reelection against Democrat Sue Dubois.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 11

Incumbent Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, won reelection against Democrat Justin Gross.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 12

Republican Fred Atchley beat out Democrat Leslie Braddock to win the open seat vacated by Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 13

Incumbent Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, handily defeated Democrat Jonathan Yancey in the District 13 race. Stevens, who previously served on the Rutherford County Commission, won a second term in the state legislature.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 14

Incumbent Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, beat Democrat Amanda Collins.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 15

Incumbent Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, beat Republican Justin Hirst.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 16

Incumbent Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville, won reelection against Democrat Lauren Carver.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 18

Incumbent Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, won reelection against Democrat Bryan Goldberg.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 20

Republican Tom Stinnett won election against Democrat Karen Gertz in the open seat, which was vacated by Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville, when he launched a failed state Senate bid.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 21

Incumbent Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, defeated Democrat Kenneth Moore.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 22

Incumbent Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, won reelection against Democrat Anna Grabowski.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 23

Incumbent Rep. Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, won reelection against Democrat David Thomforde.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 24

Incumbent Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, won reelection against Democrat Andrea Chase.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 25

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, won reelection against Democrat Wesley Adkins.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 26

Incumbent Rep. Greg Martin won reelection against Democrat Allison Gorman.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 27

Michele Reneau, a Republican who toppled the seat’s incumbent in the primary, beat out Kathy Lennon.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 28

Incumbent Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, won reelection against independent candidate Thomas Brooks.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 29

Incumbent Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, defeated Democrat Ryan Scofield to win reelection.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 30

Incumbent Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge, won reelection against Democrat Heather McClendon.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 31

Incumbent Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton, defeated Democrat Brittany Lynn Warfel and independent William Jenkins to win reelection.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 33

Republican Rick Scarbrough beat Democrat Anne Backus for the seat, previously held by Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 34

Incumbent Rep. Time Rudd, R-Mrufreesboro, beat Democrat Amelia Pant in the House District 34 race. Rudd has served in the legislature since 2017.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, won reelection Tuesday against Democrat Lexi Melton. Slater, a dean at a private Christian college in Gallatin, is a voucher support and a self-described “pro-life” legislator.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 37

Incumbent Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, won a fourth term over Democrat Cheri Brown.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 38

Incumbent Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown, won reelection against independent candidate Alexander Armor.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, defeated Democrat Rose Mary Drake to win reelection.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 40

Incumbent Rep. Michale Hale, R-Smithville, defeated Democrat Daniel Hawthorne to win reelection.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 41

Incumbent Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, defeated Democrat Joel Derek Hawn to win reelection.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 42

Incumbent Rep. Ryan Williams, R- Cookeville, won reelection against Democrat Amber Taylor.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 44

House Majority Leader and incumbent Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, won reelection against Democrat Brian Robertson in House District 44. Lamberth, among the most influential members of the GOP caucus, will likely sponsor Gov. Bill Lee’s statewide voucher proposal next year.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 45

Incumbent Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, won reelection against Democrat Alison Beale in House District 45. Garrett, the House majority whip, has served in the legislature since 2019.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, won reelection for a fourth term against Democrat Joni Cochran.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, won reelection against independent Veronica Owens.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 48

Incumbent Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, won reelection against Democrat Matt Ferry.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 49

Incumbent Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, won reelection against Democrat Luis Mata.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 50

Incumbent Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, won reelection against Republican challenger and Metro Council member Jennifer Frensley Webb.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 51

Incumbent Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, handily won reelection for her second term in a race without a Republican challenger. An independent candidate, Jeff Ketelsen, did not have a significant campaign presence.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, won reelection to his Davidson County seat against Republican challenger Laura Nelson.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 53

Incumbent Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, won reelection to his seventh term against Republican Yog Nepal and independent candidate Rueben Dockery.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 57

Incumbent Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, won reelection against Democrat Ailina Carona.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 60

In the rare open seat this cycle, gun safety reform advocate Shaundelle Brooks, a Democrat, narrowly beat out Republican and former legislative aide Chad Bobo. The seat was vacated by Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville, who is transitioning to a new job with Metro Nashville.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 61

Incumbent Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, won reelection to his second term in the House against Democrat Clair Jones and independent Alana LeBlanc.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 63

Incumbent Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, won reelection to a second term against Franklin physician Dr. Laura Andreson, a Democrat.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 64

Incumbent Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, handily won reelection against Democrat Eileen Longstreet.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 65

Real estate lawyer Lee Reeves, a Republican, picked up House District 65 against Democrat LaRhonda Williams. The Williamson County district was an open seat following the retirement of Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 66

Incumbent Rep. Sabi Kumar, R-Springfield, won reelection against Democrat Elizabeth Webb and independent candidate Kevin Mead.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 67

Incumbent Rep. Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville, won a very narrow victory against Republican Jamie Dean Peltz.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 68

Republican Aron Maberry, a Clarksville-Montgomery County school board member and Clarksville pastor, was elected in House District 68, a seat left open by the retirement of Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 70

Incumbent Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, won reelection against Democrat Jason Luttrell.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 71

Incumbent Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, won reelection against Democrat Tim Coy.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 75

Incumbent Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville, won a second term in a close race against Democrat Allie Phillips.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 76

Incumbent Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, won reelection against independent candidate James Hart.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 78

Incumbent Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, won reelection over Democrat Deborah Castle Doyle. Littleton currently chairs the Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee and is a frequent sponsor of legislation on divisive cultural issues, like a bill this year that codified protections for anti-LGBTQ foster parents.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 80

Incumbent Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, won reelection against Republican challenger Brad Grantham.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 83

Incumbent Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, held the lead early Wednesday against Democratic challenger Noah Nordstrom.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 86

Incumbent Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, won reelection against independent candidate Jeff Johnston.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 88

Incumbent Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, won reelection against Republican Larry Hunter.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 89

Incumbent Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, won reelection against Democrat Cary Hammond.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 92

Incumbent Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, won reelection over Democrat Teri Mai in District 92.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 93

Incumbent Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, won reelection against Republican Renarda Renee Clariett.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 94

Incumbent Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, won reelection against Democrat Terry Saine.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 97

Incumbent Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, held the lead early Wednesday against against Democrat Jess Huseth.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 98

Incumbent Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, won reelection against Republican Cecil Hale.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 99

Incumbent Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington, won a decisive reelection victory against independent candidate William Mouzon.

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Tennessee

Analyst Slams Titans, Aaron Rodgers Rumors

Published

4 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Analyst Slams Titans, Aaron Rodgers Rumors

The Tennessee Titans have to figure out what they’re going to do at the quarterback position moving forward.

Will Levis showed flashes of big-time potential during his rookie season last year. Unfortunately, in year two, he has taken a huge step back and shown a lot of regression.

That has led to questions about his future with the team.

Recently, it has been suggested that Aaron Rodgers could end up being a potential target for the Titans if they’re looking for another quarterback.

It’s widely expected that Rodgers will part ways with the New York Jets in the offseason. Some speculation has even suggested that he could cut ties with the Jets during the 2024 season.

With that being said, Mike Moraitis of The Sporting News has slammed the rumors of Rodgers being a potential target for Tennessee.

“However, for the Titans to even consider bringing Rodgers in, they would have to be confident they are just a quarterback away and that Rodgers can put them over the top,” Moraitis wrote. “And, Rodgers would have to believe that the Titans are right there in terms of being a contender. Nothing we’ve seen from Rodgers or the Titans in 2024 has indicated any of those things are the case.”

He continued forward, revealing his thoughts on what the Titans should actually choose to do.

“What the Titans need to do is find their long-term solution under center and not a shaky bridge quarterback,” he wrote. “If Levis doesn’t rebound, Tennessee needs to get their guy in the 2025 NFL Draft, where they will have a high pick.”

Obviously, in an ideal world, Levis would bounce back strong down the stretch of the season. He could still very well do that and there is no denying the talent he possesses.

Bringing in Rodgers would be entertaining, but it wouldn’t change much about the outlook for the franchise. Depending on the price, they could consider signing Rodgers to a one or two-year deal and drafting a rookie. Starting Rodgers and letting a rookie learn from the sideline could make sense.

Even with that being a possibility, the idea of Rodgers to Tennessee just doesn’t make a ton of sense. Fans should not expect to see the Titans try to pursue Rodgers this offseason.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

Published

13 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

The Tennessee Titans are just one day away from their next matchup against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

The Titans are looking for their first win since Week 9, when they beat the New England Patriots at home. In the last two weeks, Tennessee has lost by double digits to strong playoff-contending teams, and this week might not be much different against the first-place Texans.

CBS Sports writer Pete Prisco believes the Titans’ struggles will continue, falling 31-21 to the Texans.

“The Texans are playing on a short week, but they looked better on offense against Dallas with Nico Collins back. The Titans will have trouble stopping them this week, so look for the Texans and C.J. Stroud to play well. Will Levis won’t keep up,” Prisco writes.

The Titans will have to stop Houston’s multi-dimensional offense with Joe Mixon on the ground and Collins and Tank Dell through the air. Tennessee has the No. 2 overall defense this season, so it should provide a good test for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, but it still doesn’t make them a favorite.

If the Titans want to win against the Texans, they will have to pressure Stroud and take advantage of their offensive line, which has proven to be suspect at times during the season.

When it comes to the Titans’ offense, it needs to take care of the ball. Giving the Texans shorter fields will be the easiest way to lose the game, so if the Titans can prevent the Texans from scoring up close on short drives, they will have a chance to be competitive against their division rival.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT tomorrow. The game can be watched on CBS or streamed on Paramount+.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

Published

21 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

There was a reason Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley didn’t make any trips to Knoxville during the home stretch of Ensworth’s season.

Utley wanted to be fully locked into the Tigers’ TSSAA football playoffs run.

That’s one reason why Friday’s tearful postgame was so difficult. McCallie ended Ensworth’s season, defeating the Tigers 31-7 to advance to the Division II-AAA state final on Dec. 5 in Chattanooga against Baylor.

Utley, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound four-star defensive lineman, doesn’t know if he’ll enroll early at Tennessee yet. He hasn’t been thinking that far ahead. Everything lately, he said, was about the Tigers trying to reach their first TSSAA football state championship game since 2014.

“It hurts and it will hurt for a while. My mind was set on going to the state championship,” Utley said. “All the personal stuff, it doesn’t really matter. I knew Ensworth was going to be my home and where I would graduate from. I never wanted to transfer. My seniors and I gave it everything we could and just fell short.”

Ensworth (11-1) trailed just 7-0 at halftime. McCallie (10-2) began to put the game out of reach when Vanderbilt commitment Carson Lawrence returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7 with 10:46 left.

Utley, who appeared in all 45 of Ensworth’s games since the beginning of his freshman season, played through an injury most of the second half until the pain became too much. He said he was kneed in one of his nerves in his right shin. He was helped to the bench by Ensworth staffers late in the fourth quarter.

“I told myself if it has to end this way, I’m going to have to get dragged off this field,” Utley said. “And that’s what happened.”

Utley is the No. 3 prospect from Tennessee in the 2025 class and No. 21 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He intends to sign with the Volunteers when the early period begins Dec. 4.

“He’s super athletic for his size, very smart,” Ensworth coach Tim Hasselbeck said. “Depending on how he wants to change his body in the weight room, how he eats, he’ll figure out what position he’ll play. I think he could play on either side of the ball. He’s got a very bright future.”

Utley was an easy teammate to get along with, Hasselbeck said. That’s where Utley’s focus was Friday as he hugged players on the field one last time.

But he knows a big stage awaits in Knoxville.

“I’m excited for the competition. I’m grateful to be able to go play Division I football in the SEC. Most kids can’t say they can go do that,” Utley said. “I’ve been through some hard times. For that to be my next step, I’m more than blessed. When I get healthy and get my body right, get back in that weight room, get back on the field and start attacking it more, I’ll start getting ready for the bigger things ahead.”

Get the latest news and insight on High School football recruiting and local high school sports with The Bootleg newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

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