Tennessee is a ruby-red state, with GOP leaders holding control of statewide offices and supermajorities inside the General Assembly and congressional seats.
This year, Republican Gov. Bill Lee is running for reelection against first-time Democratic opponent Jason Martin. To date, Lee has largely refused to acknowledge that he’s even in a race for a second term and has ignored Martin. That gives him something in common with national Democratic groups, who haven't really spent in support of Martin.
The only other race attracting national attention is the fight over Nashville’s newly redrawn congressional seats. Republicans split up left-leaning Nashville into three districts during redistricting with the hopes of flipping a seat to their political party. Far-right former Mayor Andy Ogles is running against Democratic Sen. Heidi Campbell in the open 5th Congressional District after Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper announced there was no path for him to win and didn't run for reelection.
Four state constitutional amendments are also on the ballot, with the most contentious issue involving whether voters should enshrine the state’s so-called “right to work” law in the state Constitution. Nothing changes if the amendment fails, the law will still be in place regardless of what happens on Election Day, but labor advocates have campaigned heavily against the measure.
The other three amendments address the rules of succession for governor, removing the exception for slavery as punishment for a crime and removing the prohibition of clergy members serving in the state House
Finally, while there are 55 contested legislative races between the Senate and House, Republicans expect to maintain their supermajority control between the two chambers.
Here’s a look at what to...
