Tennesseans Share Voice: Tennessee General Election Nov. 3

Tennessee is preparing for the November 3 general election, when voters will select the candidates for the posts of the governor, the US Senator, the members of the House of Representatives, the Tennessee General Assembly, and the local municipal offices. This article provides the basic information on the powers of the offices, the candidates, their political platforms, and the prospects of the races.

The governor is the head of state of Tennessee, the chief executive of the state government, and the commander-in-chief of the state’s militia. The governor has the power to promulgate laws, appoint the state’s department secretaries, and recommend a state budget to the General Assembly after passing a law over a four-year term. Thus, the main candidates for this position are Marsha Blackburn and Jerri Green. The former has been a senior senator from Tennessee since 2019 and was a member of the House of Representatives from the 7th Congressional District and a senator in the Tennessee State Senate. Her platform includes pushing the state’s economy, cutting taxes, securing borders, enhancing security, and advancing conservative education. Jerri Green is the Memphis City Council member from the 2nd District, a former juvenile public defender and policy advisor. She aims to expand TennCare, increase funding for schools and special needs education, provide paid family leave, eliminate state taxes on hygiene products, and legalize cannabis. Experts assess this race as a safe seat for the Republican.

The US Senators are the members of the upper house of the federal legislature representing the state in the federal government in Washington, DC. They serve six-year terms and have the power to propose legislation and confirm federal appointments, including presidential nominations, with a majority vote. The candidates for Tennessee’s Senate seats are Bill Hagerty and Marquita Bradshaw. The former is a current Republican Senator from Tennessee and was the US Ambassador to Japan and the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. His platform is focused on deregulation and an emphasis on domestic energy production, reducing federal spending, and enhancing security at the borders. The latter is a Memphis-based environmental justice activist and community organizer who previously ran for the Senate seat in 2020 as the Democratic nominee. Her platform is focused on clean air and water, single-payer healthcare, a federal minimum wage increase, and the right to unionize. Experts assess this race as a safe seat for the Republican.

The House of Representatives consists of the members elected from each state to the lower house of the federal legislature and serves two-year terms. The representatives have the power to introduce and approve legislation and conduct elections for the president and vice president. The candidates running for Tennessee's representatives in the House are numerous, including Diana Harshbarger for the 1st District, Chuck Fleischmann for the 3rd District, and Charlie Hatcher for the 5th District. Harshbarger is a former state treasurer and is running for a second term with pro-business positions, developing the economy by attracting manufacturers and supporting farmers. Her opponent, Kristi Burke, is a Democrat, and her positions concern healthcare access in rural areas, increasing teachers’ salaries, and developing nuclear energy. Fleischmann is the incumbent representative from the 3rd District and is also running for a second term with a fiscally conservative platform focused on defense spending and infrastructure projects. His opponent, Anna Golladay, works for a non-profit organization and advocates for affordable housing and working-family tax credits. Hatcher is the Republican candidate for the 5th District, and his policies focus on deregulation and boosting the economy. Chaz Molder is the Democrat from the 5th District, and his positions are focused on public transportation and school funding. The state delegation to the House of Representatives is dominated by Republicans, and they have won six of the nine districts in 2020. Experts forecast that the candidates for Tennessee's House of Representatives will win safely due to the advantage of the Republicans.

The Tennessee General Assembly is the state’s legislature and the lawmaking organ of the state, with a bicameral system of state government. It consists of the 33-member Senate and the 99-member House of Representatives. The senators serve four-year terms, and the representatives serve two-year terms. The candidates for Tennessee's state senators and House representatives are numerous. However, some examples of the races are as follows. The State Senate District 11 seats are contested by the incumbent Republican Bo Watson and the opposition Democratic nominee Tim Roberts. The former focuses on cutting taxes and spending, while the latter emphasizes the need for school funding. The State House District 30 seat is contested by the incumbent Republican Esther Helton Haynes and the Democratic challenger Art Rymer. The former emphasizes the need to develop local businesses and enhance security, and the latter wants to invest in infrastructure. The state senate and house representatives are dominated by the Republicans, and they have a forecasting advantage due to the supermajorities.

The local authorities and local governments are led by municipal offices, including the mayor, city council, and city commissioners. Municipal governments handle local matters, including setting property and sales tax, managing budgets, providing public services such as safety and fire departments, and regulating and issuing zoning permits. Many towns and cities across the state are holding local elections, which can be partisan or nonpartisan. Voters should check with their county or city election officials for specific information about the polls, voter rolls, identification requirements, and sample ballots. For Morristown the new city council member at large is split between the Republican candidate, Tommy Pedigo, and the democrat candidate Kelly Lynam. Additionally, the ward 1 runner is Frank McGuffin, with the ward 3 runner being Kay Senter. To conclude, it is a heavy time for political related content with all the votes happening, make sure to cast your own vote on Nov. 3 as it is your civic duty!