Political Musical Chairs – November 2017 Update

Retirements and resignations have continued among Tennessee legislators, building up 2018 as one of the Tennessee's most active election years in decades. Whenever there is a statewide elected office up for grabs without an incumbent, there is a scramble of people declaring themselves candidates for the position. Now with two statewide offices open (governor and United States senator), there is even more of a scramble than usual. A sort of musical chairs has developed, with candidates running for different positions in which incumbents are running for the statewide or other elected position. Across the state, there is a domino effect of people not running for re-election and are instead running for newly vacant positions. Throw in appointments to a federal judgeship and US attorney, and there are certainly a lot of moving pieces to Tennessee’s election landscape. Let’s take a look at the announced candidates and changes, along with the rumor and speculation that has been reported in the media.

 

Governor

The field of candidates appears set. For the Republican nomination, the candidates are state Sen. Mae Beavers, Congressman Diane Black, former Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, and businessman Bill Lee. For the Democratic nomination, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh are the announced candidates. 

 

US Senator

Sen. Bob Corker has announced he will not be seeking reelection in 2018. Andy Ogles, recently the head of Americans for Prosperity in Tennessee, had already announced in September he would be seeking the Republican nomination, but he announced recently he will be dropping out of the race. Governor Bill Haslam thought about running for the position, but he has announced he will not be seeking the seat. Republican Congressman Marsha Blackburn and former Congressman Stephen Fincher have both formally announced their bids, who still has a healthy campaign account he can use in a Senate race. James Mackler is the only announced Democrat candidate, however former Governor Phil Bredesen and Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke are considering whether to jump in the race. State Sen. Jeff Yarbro and Nashville businessman Bill Freeman have both announced they will not seek the seat. 

 

US Congress

With Congressman Marsha Blackburn deciding to run for Sen. Bob Corker's Senate seat, Tennessee will see three new members of Congress out of nine congressional seats for the state. Congressman Diane Black is running for governor and Congressman Jimmy Duncan is retiring. Congressman Phil Roe has been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer, but he has not given any indication he will be bowing out. For Black’s seat, announced candidates are state Rep. Judd Matheny, along with businessman and former Commissioner of Agriculture John Rose. Rumored to be mulling a bid at the seat is Scottie Nell Hughes. For Blackburn's seat, Republican state Sen. Mark Green and songwriter Lee Thomas Miller have announced they will be running for the GOP nomincation, while Democrat Justin Kanew had already announced he would be seeking the seat before Blackburn's announcement. With the retirement of Congressman John Duncan, several have announced a run for the seat: current Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, businessman Brad Fullington, state GOP Executive Committee member Ken Gross, and Rep. Jimmy Matlock. Other Tennessee members of Congress have gotten opponents, but none of them are considered major. Congressman DesJarlais’s announced opponents include fellow Republican Jack Maddox and Democrats Mariah Phillips and Steven Reynolds.

 

Speaker of House

With House Speaker Beth Harwell recently announcing her bid for Tennessee Governor, there will be a new speaker that will have to be elected in the 2019 legislative session. Rep. Gerald McCormick has already announced he will seek the post, touting his time as House Republican Leader. Current House Republican Leader, Glen Casada, says he will determine later if he will run for the post. Rep. David Hawk of Greeneville, House Speaker Pro Tem Curtis Johnson, Rep. Tim Wirgau and Rep. Barry Doss have been mentioned as well.

 

Senate Majority Leader

Sen. Mark Norris is the current state Senate Republican Leader, and should he be confirmed for the federal judgeship there will be a new leader in 2019. Confirmed to be running for the position include current Senate Commerce Chairman Sen. Jack Johnson and current Senate Government Operations Chairman Sen. Mike Bell. Rumored to be considering running for the position include Sen. Bo Watson and current Senate Finance Chairman. Sen. Bill Ketron and current Senate Republican Caucus Chairman has announced he will be running for Rutherford County Mayor, and no senator has been publicly speculated to be considering the position.

Tennessee House of Representatives

Several legislators have already announced they are not running for re-election or would be giving up their seats to run for another office. Here’s a rundown of some of the announced retirements and some rumored to not be running for re-election:

• Rep. Raumesh Akbari - may run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Lee Harris.
• Rep. David Alexander – Announced he is running for Franklin County Mayor.
• Rep. Harry Brooks – Retiring from the legislature.
• Rep. Jimmy Eldridge – Rumored to be running for Mayor for the City of Jackson in 2019.
• Rep. Jo Anne Favors - Announced she is not running for re-election.
• Rep. Craig Fitzhugh – Announced he is running for Governor.
• Rep. Brenda Gilmore – Announced to be running for Sen. Thelma Harper’s seat. 
• Rep. Marc Gravitt – Announced he is running for Hamilton County Register of Deeds.
• Speaker Beth Harwell – Announced she is running for Governor.
• Rep. Roger Kane – Running for Knox County Clerk.
• Rep. Sherry Jones - Announced she is running for Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk
• Rep. Judd Matheny – Announced he is running for Cong. Diane Black’s congressional seat. 
• Rep. Jimmy Matlock – Announced he is running to succeed Congressman Jimmy Duncan who announced his retirement.
• Rep. Steve McDaniel - Tied for the representative with the longest tenure in the House and the chamber's current Deputy Speaker announced he is retiring and not seeking re-election.
• Rep. Joe Pitts – Announced he is not seeking re-election.
• Rep. Mark Pody – Announced he is running for Sen. Mae Beavers seat since she is running for Governor.
• Rep. Charles Sargent - The current House Finance Committee Chairman announced his retirement due to health concerns.
• Rep. Art Swann – Announced he is running for the seat of state Sen. Doug Overbey’s who has been nominated to the position of U.S. Attorney in East Tennessee.
• Rep. Joe Towns -  - may run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Lee Harris.
• Rep. Dawn White – Running for Sen. Bill Ketron’s seat since he will be running for Rutherford County Mayor.

Tennessee Senate

Some immediate changes are likely to come in the Senate, with as many as three possible new senators when the legislature returns in January:

• Sen. Mae Beavers – Has resigned to concentrate on her race for Governor. 
• Sen. Thelma Harper – Rumored to possibly not be running for re-election. 
• Sen. Bill Ketron – Running for Rutherford County Mayor.
• Sen. Lee Harris - Running for Shelby County Mayor.
• Sen. Mark Norris – Nominated for a federal judgeship. Still needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
• Sen. Doug Overbey – Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the position of U.S. Attorney in East Tennessee. 
• Sen. Jim Tracy - Resigned his seat after being appointed the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office. A special election will take place next year to fill his seat.