Tennessee
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.
Tennessee
Tennessee AMC theater worker, 85, receives $146K from strangers for retirement after viral video
A viral Tennessee movie theater worker, 85, was surprised with $146K as strangers rallied together to help her “enjoy retirement.”
Mary Ellen Eron was seen hauling a heavy black garbage bag and pushing a cleaning cart during her shift at the theater in Maryville, Tenn., which has since been viewed more than 13 million times.
“Let’s secretly help retire this beautiful woman. No one deserves to work at this age,” movie customer Brooklyn Green, who filmed the video, captioned the post.
Green launched a fundraiser last weekend after watching Mary, who has been a movie theater staffer for 45 years, hard at work – even though she’s a stranger.
“I knew nothing about her. I didn’t even know her name when I went to the theater,” Green told WATE reported. “I just decided that she was working so hard, and I aspired to be like her one day.
“Her physical appearance didn’t look too comfortable, especially since the way she was working so hard.”
Green set a target of $200,000 – and she raised $146,317 before pausing donations. More than 7,500 people donated to the charitable cause.
On Wednesday, Green posted the moment that she presented Eron, who helps the homeless and her local church, with the total figures from the crowdfunding page.
“Oh my goodness. That’s a lot of money,” Eron said as she realized the number on the piece of paper.
“That’s a lot of money and you deserve every bit of it,” Green said.
The clip also featured a message from Eron, who addressed the people who had contributed.
“Thank you so very much to all the wonderful people that have donated money to the GoFundMe,” she said.
“I’m overwhelmed and certainly blessed by the Lord and you wonderful people. Thank you once more.”
The theater’s manager revealed it will be Eron’s decision when she retires.
The Tennessee Volunteers have had their fair share of bad news as of late when it comes to the college baseball transfer portal, but luckily, they have received some great news.
The great news that they have received is that they will be returning one of their breakout stars from this past college baseball season, as he has no intentions of entering the college baseball transfer portal.
Trent Grindlinger Will Return to Tennessee
The player who is set to return to Tennessee is Trent Grindlinger, who was electric this season and is expected to be a future top 10 MLB draft pick. This is expected for the first draft that he is eligible for, which is the 2027 MLB Draft rather than this upcoming draft that will feature multiple Vols, including Tennessee ACE, Tegan Kuhns.
Grindlinger finished last season with a batting average of .345, while hitting eight home runs and only striking out 28 times. This would be an electric season for the talented Volunteers’ batter, and he is set for a season that could and should be even better than that, which would be good enough to consider for some major college baseball end-of-the-season awards. He is just one of the few players who opted to stay and return rather than enter their name into the college baseball transfer portal, but if they were going to return anyone, he is the player they would want to return in the field.
Had he entered the transfer portal, there wouldn’t be a single college in the nation that wouldn’t want to add him, as every college would want to add the elite prospect. Not only that, but he would become the nation’s No. 1 player on the portal more than likely.
Luckily for the Vols, though, they don’t have to worry about that.
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Tennessee
Franklin police ticket 13-year-old after e-bike crash, and a new Tennessee law brings more changes July 1
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — Franklin police cited a 13-year-old following a crash involving a motorized bike, and a new Tennessee law taking effect July 1 will bring additional restrictions for young riders.
On April 21, Franklin officers responded to a fender bender at the Interstate 65 off-ramp at the Goose Creek Bypass involving a 13-year-old on a motorized bike and a vehicle. Both the teen and the adult driver were waiting for officers when they arrived. The woman behind the wheel was visibly shaken and told officers the bike came out of nowhere while she was attempting to turn right on red.
The bike turned out to be more powerful than a standard e-bicycle. Under the law, it is not considered a bicycle at all — it is classified as a motor scooter, which falls under different laws than Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes.
“Downside is kids are about to get a bunch of tickets. He can’t ride that e-bike because it’s not just an e-bike — too much voltage, it’s a motor scooter,” Officer Spry with the Franklin Traffic Unit said.
“He can’t be on a sidewalk, he has to be in a bike lane, and it can’t be more than 28 miles an hour,” Spry said.
The driver of the car was cited for failure to exercise due care. The 13-year-old was cited for several violations, including not having a driver’s license, insurance, or registration. Franklin police say the citations issued to the teen are all appropriate under current law. Officers told the teen’s parent the citations would need to be answered in juvenile court. The family promised to trade the bike in for something safer.
Spry made clear this is not an isolated case.
“You’re not the only one that I’ve written this ticket to,” Spry said.
“This is probably one of the greatest opportunities for us to provide safety and save a life that we’ll ever see,” Franklin Alderman Greg Caesar said.
Starting July 1, only those 16 years and older will be legally allowed to ride Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach speeds of 28 miles per hour. The new law changes the age of those allowed to operate Class 3 e-bikes and does not affect the motor scooter classification that applied in this case.
Franklin city leaders are debating changes to local e-bike laws. Alderman Greg Caesar described it as a nuanced problem but said educating parents should start now.
“It needs to be considered, as some of these e-bikes and riders can do real and significant damage,” Caesar said.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Amanda.Roberts@NewsChannel5.com
This story was reported on-air by Amanda Roberts and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Students help relaunch donation drive for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Young or old, we all love to play board and card games! Those games become even more important when you are indoors and don’t have the ability to get outside, like patients in a hospital. Austin Pollack shares the story of students in a Nashville family who have helped re-launch the Red Wagon project to collect games for patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
– Lelan Statom
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