Who's Running for What

by Rod Williams, July 16, 2026 - I was preparing to compile a post on the topic of 'who's running for what," but then came across an excellent post from the Pamphleteer on the topic and am reposting it here. Their article is much better than what I would have had the time to compile.

I try to be respectful of copyrighted material, but sometime back I asked the Editor in Chief if I could, on occasion, repost Pamphleteer articles and was given verbal permission. The pamphleteer is an excellent publication with a small staff, focusing on Nashville arts, culture, and politics. If you are not familiar with the publication, please check it out at this link and consider becoming a subscriber. It is important to support quality, independent journalism. Here is the article:

Who's Running for What

By The Pamphleteer, Newsletter • 16 Jul 2026 - Early primary voting kicks off tomorrow. The GOP primary for governor has grabbed all the headlines, but contests for the GOP spot in the 6th Congressional District, the Democrat spot in the 7th Congressional District, and the Democrat spot in House District 59 are also worth monitoring.

Noticeably absent from any Davidson County ballot is the District 5 race. Nashville is now split between Congressional Districts 4, 6, and 7. Early voting and sample ballot information is available on the Davidson County Election Commission website. Use your address to find your new congressional district here.

A breezy look through the races follows with fundraising totals for the candidates in competitive races. If you want to dig deeper into candidate funding, Who Funds Tennessee is an excellent resource.

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Governor 
Though the Democratic side of the ticket is crowded, the real contest is unfolding on the Republican side of the ticket. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn entered the race as the clear frontrunner, but a few late-campaign missteps has given Republican challengers U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts an opening to close the gap.

John Rose (R): $10,876,559 raised; heavily self-funded
Marsha Blackburn (R): $9,541,518 raised; significant out-of-state contributions
Monty Fritts (R): $281,860 raised; distant third

Campaign finance records show that PACs have spent more than $2.5 million supporting Blackburn. The D.C.-based Tennessee Freedom Fund PAC raised $4.6 million from April to June to target Rose.

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U.S. Senate 
The only competition in Tennessee’s U.S. Senate primary race is on the Democratic ticket. Sitting Senator Bill Hagerty is enjoying an uncontested primary run and is highly favored in November’s general election.

Meanwhile, a slew of challengers will be duking it out for the Democratic nod over the next month. That said, the campaign finance disclosures show just how unserious Hagerty’s competition is.

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U.S. House District 4
 Incumbent Congressman Scott DesJarlais is the clear favorite in the new 4th Congressional District GOP primary. The district remains heavily Republican, making the GOP primary the real contest, but he faces a well-funded challenger on the Democratic side in Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese. Cortese is battling it out with Victoria Broderick—who previously ran for the 4th District in 2024—alongside a few other underdogs.  

Scott DesJarlais (R, incumbent) $523,391 raised; 81% from out of state
Mike Cortese (D)  $706,113 raised; best-funded in the race

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U.S. House District 6 
A contentious primary race is cooking up for Congressman John Rose’s open seat in District 6. State Representative Johnny Garrett and former TN-4 U.S. representative Van Hilleary are the top Republican candidates in pursuit of the nomination, with underdog Jon Henry a distant third on the fundraising front.

Johnny Garrett (R): $2.2 million raised
Van Hilleary (R): $1.5 million raised
Jon Henry (R): $67 thousand raised

Chaney Mosley, Mike Croley, and Lore Bergman—who has previously challenged Rose as the Democratic nominee for this congressional district—look to be the most competitive Democratic candidates in this race.

Though the new TN-6 lines make it somewhat less Republican-leaning than the previous version of the district, it is still a Republican-favored seat.

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U.S. House District 7 
Congressman Matt Van Epps, who recently tasted victory after winning the special 7th District congressional election to replace Mark Green last year, faces no competition in the Republican primaries.

On the Democratic ticket, likely frontrunners are Darden Copeland—who is the strongest fundraiser on the ticket—and state Representative Vincent Dixie—an elected official with strong grassroots support. 

Darden Copeland (D) $677,614 raised; 53% from out of state
Vincent Dixie (D) $218,197 raised

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State Senate 
The only contested state senate race on the Davidson County ballot is District 17. Newcomer Theodore (Butch) Baker has an uphill battle against incumbent state Senator Mark Pody for the Republican nomination. Only two Democrats are competing for the primary nod: Joni Cochran and Lindsey Patrick-Wright.

Mark Pody (R, incumbent) $674,051 raised
Butch Baker (R) $46,430 raised
Joni Cochran (D) $88,166 raised
Lindsey Patrick-Wright (D) $44,732 raised

Tennessee Senate District 19 incumbent Charlane Oliver and District 21 incumbent Jeff Yarbro are both uncontested.

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State House 

The only competitive House seat primary is on the Democratic side of the ticket in state Rep. Caleb Hemmer’s vacated District 59 seat. A crowded field finds Rick Ewing, husband of councilmember Sandy Ewing, attorney Angie Lawless, former THP Mark Proctor, and nonprofit executive Beth West duking it out for the opportunity to take on uncontested Republican nominee Bill Hancock in November.

Mark Proctor (D) $171,515 raised; top D59 Dem. fundraiser
Angie Lawless (D) $121,200 raised; 43% self-funded
Rick Ewing (D) $82,886 raised
Beth West (D) $65,558 raised
Bill Hancock (R) $225,251 raised; sitting on ~$205K cash for November

In Districts 52, 55, and 60, both the Republican candidate and the Democrat candidate will advance uncontested. Republicans don’t have challengers in House Districts 50 (Bo Mitchell), 51 (Aftyn Behn), 53 (Jason Powell), 56 (Bob Freeman), and 58 (Harold M. Love, Jr.).

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County General Elections

You’ll also find a number of uncompetitive county general election races on your ballot, including judgeships, school board members, and the sheriff. Given the Republican Party’s lack of candidates during May’s primaries, all candidates are uncontested.

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Reflecting Pool Peeling Likely Caused by Application Flaws, Experts Say

by Rod Williams, July 17, 2026- There are some Trumpanistas who believe anything Trump says. If Trump says the election was stolen, they believe it. Trump says the Haitians are eating the cats and dogs, and they believe it. Mexico will pay for the wall; sure, they will. It is the exporting country that pays the tariffs; if Trump says it, it has got to be true. No Trump lie is too big or too bizarre for these Trump supporters to believe. Of course, this does not apply to all Trump followers. Some see Trump for what he is, but still think that Trump, with all of his flaws, is the better alternative. I don't feel that way, but I can conceptually understand the reasoning. 

When the reflecting pool started peeling, Trump started looking for a villain. One maxim of Trumpism is never to admit a mistake under any circumstances. Always find an enemy to blame. Trump said the problem with the reflecting pool was vandals. Trump said someone with a knife or a box cutter got in the water and cut a 250-foot slash down the length of the pool. When tourists started picking up pieces of the peeling liner floating in the reflecting pool, Trump had them arrested as vandals.

While Trump has not and will not admit that the problem with the reflecting pool was shoddy workmanship performed by the inexperienced Trump pool guy, who got a $14.7 million no-bid contract, that appears to be the cause of the problem.

The Washington Post has investigated the Reflecting Pool issue, bringing in experts who often testify in court cases relating to disputes involving swimming pools.  The Washington Post story looks at where the failures occurred, and experts explain why. This is a lengthy article and gets pretty detailed, but it is well worth reading for anyone who wants to understand what happened. Below are some excerpts from the article. 

... Post reporters visited the Reflecting Pool on June 25 and identified seven locations where the lining — a waterproof membrane that was painted onto the concrete basin — had partially or entirely peeled away. The peeling occurred in irregularly shaped patches that stretched alongside the long edges of the pool. The pieces ranged in size from a few inches to as long as six feet. In one case, the concrete was visible underneath. ...

By comparing the seven locations with satellite imagery, photos and videos taken during the renovation process, the analysis found that all of the failures occurred at the seams — lines between two areas that were painted at different times.

... Four experts in waterproofing materials — who have decades of experience and have served as educators and expert witnesses in pool-related construction lawsuits — reviewed The Post’s findings and said the failure pattern strongly suggested errors in the application process. They said that while a precise cause cannot be determined without on-site examination and lab testing, such seams require careful attention and are especially prone to failure.

... In five of the spots, the dark blue Pipeliner 5000 coating had peeled off to reveal more of the same material. Experts said this appears consistent with an adhesion failure caused by an overlap of the dark blue over a dried layer of the same material at the seams. For any overlapping Pipeliner 5000 to adhere, the underlying layer would need to still be wet or, if not, steps would need to be taken to prepare the surface.

To read it all, follow this link. 

 

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Marsha Blackburn Thinks Tennessee Has a Payroll Tax. What??

by Rod Williams, July 15, 2026- What is wrong with Marsha Blackburn? In defending the $30 million subsidy for Starbucks to entice it to relocate to Tennessee, Marsha says the money will be recouped through payroll taxes in the first six months. What?? Tennessee does not have an income tax nor a payroll tax. The difference between a payroll tax and an income tax is that a payroll tax is taken from an employee's taxable compensation, while an income tax is a tax on a person or family's total household income.  FICA taxes, which are withheld from your paycheck and used to fund Social Security and Medicare is a payroll tax. An income tax is a tax paid by an individual based on total household income. While they differ, they are both taxes on income. Tennessee has neither. A payroll tax was once considered and rejected way back during the Sunquest administration. Marsha Blackburn was instrumental in defeating the State income tax proposal. Surely, she knows Tennessee does not have a payroll tax. 

Does Marsh really think Tennessee has a payroll tax? Watch the above video to see her say what I just said she said. Go to time stamp 4:50.

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Tennessee is the Worst State to Live in, in the Country, if You Are Liberal

by Rod Williams, July 14, 2026- When I first heard that some entity had listed Tennessee as the worst state to live in, in America, I was surprised and skeptical. After all, Tennessee is one of the states to which a lot of California refugees are fleeing. 

Tennessee ranked 5th among U.S. states for net gain of one-way U-Haul customers in 2025, behind Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Visual Capitalist says Tennessee ranks number 5 as the state destination for movers. If Tennessee is the worst state in the nation, why are so many people moving here?

Tennessee was ranked No. 4 in Consumer Affairs' affordability ranking. The Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Tennessee 17th in economic strength. If keeping more of your own money is an important consideration for you, the Tax Foundation ranks Tennessee third for the lowest state and local tax burden.

Tennessee does rank low by some other entities doing rankings. America's Dashboard ranks Tennessee 36th. US News and World Report ranks Tennessee 32nd. Consumer Affairs ranks Tennessee 38th in its list of best states to move to. 

It was CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel) that ranked Tennessee the worst state in the U.S. for quality of life. If you want to learn more about why Tennessee ranked so low, follow this link. 

While I am embarrassed by some of the laws Tennessee has passed recently and embarrassed by some of our elected officials, and wish Memphis did not keep pushing our crime rate up, those things are not what define our state. We have some of the most beautiful natural wonders of anywhere in the country, and the music and charm of Tennessee are unmatched. Tennessee is a great place to live. However, if the CNBC criteria are what is most important to you, then by all means, Tennessee is not for you, so don't move here.

As the Pamphleteer put it, the reasons states wind up on this worst of list are these.

1. Not enough abortions

2. Not gay enough

3. "food insecurity"

4. Not enough HR rules

5. Not enough gun laws

6. Not enough therapists

7. Not enough working moms

8. Not enough affirmative action

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NewsChannel 5 Cancels GOP Gubernatorial Debate After Blackburn and Rose Opt Out

by Michelle Bonnett, WTVF, July 14, 2026 - Senator Marsha Blackburn declined NewsChannel 5's
invitation to take part in a GOP Gubernatorial debate on Monday, July 20th. The debate was set to take place at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Blackburn campaign manager Abigail Sigler told us, "Senator Blackburn has votes scheduled in the Senate that evening."

NewsChannel 5 asked if there was another date that would work better for the Senator's schedule, but we have not heard back.

Now, Congressman John Rose has decided not to take part. His campaign said he wouldn't participate without Senator Blackburn. (read more)

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If You Are Politically Homeless, Join Me for This Gathering on July 23th at TailGate Brewery

 

The July Meeting of Junto, Middle Tennessee

by Rod Williams, July 12, 2026 - If you are exiled from the Republican party and do not feel at home in a Republican Party that has been hijacked by populist, grifters, con men, insurrectionists, nut-jobs, and white nationalists, political life can be quite lonely. That is me. I am a never-Trumper but I certainly do not feel at home in the Democrat Party.  I am a classical liberal who still believes in limited government, the Constitution, and free enterprise. My values have not changed; the Republican Party has changed. If this also describes you, I encourage you to join me on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at TailGate Brewery Music Row at 6PM for a meeting of Junto Middle Tennessee.

Junto, which means "group" or "together", is informally associated with The Dispatch, an international online news organization started by Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes in 2019. Our particular Junto gathers thoughtful citizens who are somewhat politically homeless as they look around and see an erosion of classically liberal values in our two-party system. We gather, in-person, to engage in respectful discussion to connect and learn from each other. 

Visit the Junto Facebook page to learn more or just show up. 

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How is the Metro Council Addresssing Data Centers

by Rod Williams, July 11, 2026- The following is from the newsletter of Councilman Jeff Preptit, Metro Council District 25:

Legislative Update

BL2026-1391

This past week, Council considered and passed a number of bills aimed at addressing data centers in Nashville. Currently in Nashville, our zoning code is completely silent on, and does not address where data centers can be placed. Under our current code, a data center could be place on any parcel that is zoned for a commercial use. BL2026-1391, which I have co-sponsored, addresses this deficiency by placing strict regulations and conditions on where a data center could be place in Davidson County. In particular, this bill prohibits hyperscale data centers that are 500,000 square feet or more. If an entity wanted to build a hyperscale data center, under these regulations, they would be required to apply for a special exemption by the Board of Zoning Appeals, have a public hearing on the matter, and be subject to strict environmental and energy regulations. Additionally, the legislation places restrictions on small and medium scale data centers.

A small data center is defined as a data center of 20,0000 square feet in size or less and/or with a maximum utilization capacity of 5MW of electricity and which does not utilize a dedicated power substation. Under the bill currently, “No data center shall be permitted in a location that is less than 100 feet from a residential use, day care home, daycare center, religious institution, community education use, park, zoo, correctional facility, or other data center. Distance shall be measured in a straight line from the closest point of a parcel line of the parcel for which the data center is sought to the closest point of the parcel line of the parcel on which the identified uses are located.

The bill also defines a medium data center as “a data center larger than 20,000 but not to exceed 100,000 square feet in size and/or with a maximum utilization capacity greater than 20MW but not exceeding 100MW of electricity and which utilizes a dedicated power substation.”

Under this bill, “No medium data center shall be permitted in a location that is less than 500 feet from a residential use, day care home, daycare center, religious institution, community education use, park, zoo, correctional facility, or other data center or less than 2,640 feet from the centerline of a Choose How You Move (CHYM) All-Access Corridor. Distance shall be measured in a straight line from the closest point of a parcel line of the parcel for which the data center is sought to the closest point of the parcel line of the parcel on which the identified uses are located or from the closest point of a parcel line of the parcel for which the data center is sought to the centerline of identified corridors.”

BL-1391 also requires that any data center operating in Davidson County must utilize a “closed loop” cooling system that prevents the discharge of harmful chemicals and heavy metals into our water system. I am also working closely with Metro Water Services to undertake an examination of our current clean water regulations with the goal of closing loopholes across industries to ensure that no data center or any other industrial business is able to harm our vital natural resources.

BL-1391 will be before Council for its third and final reading at the next Council meeting. As a Title 17 bill, 1391 will be amendable on third reading, and I anticipate there will be a number of amendments brought forward to strengthen this bill.

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Blood and Soil is Not the Basis of What Makes One an American

 

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Trump Names Singer John Rich, of Duo "Big and Rich", USDA Special Envoy for US Landowners

by Rod Williams, June 11, 2026 - President Trump has named Nashville Country singer John Rich of the duo Big and Rich, special envoy for US landowners.   Below is the complete press release: I have highlighted the section that describes his duties.

As Special Envoy, Rich will serve as a leading advocate for America’s farmers, ranchers, and private landowners, helping ensure their concerns are heard and their rights are protected. He will engage directly with landowners across the country and work to address challenges posed by government overreach, activist pressure campaigns, and outside interests that threaten private property rights and the long-term viability of rural communities.

A key focus of Rich’s work will be advocating for landowners facing pressure related to large-scale solar and wind development that may impact productive farmland, ranchland, and rural livelihoods. He will work closely with USDA leadership and stakeholders to ensure landowners have a strong voice in decisions affecting their property and communities.

“America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners are among the greatest stewards of our nation’s resources and the backbone of our rural communities,” said Secretary Rollins. “President Trump understands that private property rights are fundamental to the American way of life. John Rich has long been a champion for rural America, and I look forward to working alongside him as we continue fighting for the people who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation.”

“President Trump has afforded me the great honor of serving as Special Envoy for American Landowners,” said Special Envoy Rich. “I look forward to representing and advocating for landowners’ rights and standing up for the farmers, ranchers, and rural families who work every day to provide for our country. Protecting private property rights and ensuring that landowners are not harassed, intimidated, or pressured by outside interests will be at the heart of this mission.”

The appointment reflects President Trump’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, and landowners have a strong voice in Washington and a federal government that supports, rather than hinders, their success.

I am not sure if John Rich will get paid for his role as Special Envoy for landowners or not. I have searched but cannot find an answer.  I would assume he would not, but who knows. Will he be paid for travel expenses? I would assume so, but don't know. I also wonder it he will have staff? Is this the birth of a new bureaucracy?  It seems to be an unnecessary position, but if it is just an honorary title and doesn't cost taxpayers anything, then I guess there's no harm done. 

This sort of reminds me of when Elvis Presley was made a Special Honorary Agent of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and got a badge. 

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Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti Pushes Federal Government to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls

by Rod Williams, July 10, 2026 -Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti yesterday joined a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt stronger safeguards that would make it harder for scammers to obtain legitimate telephone numbers and use them to target consumers.

I approve. I routinely get phone calls and text messages informing me of the "Social Security grocery allowance.' I usually hang up before they can make their pitch. The number is a 615 area code. I will block the number and then the next day, I will get another call, again from a 615 area code, but a different number. It is annoying and frustrating. I have reached the point to where I almost never answer a call from an unknown number. I could be missing legitimate calls.

There is no official “Social Security grocery allowance” issued by the Social Security Administration. The benefit they try to tell me about is usually a $900 or $2,700 annual food allowance. Sometimes, I will play along and let the caller waste his time and ask question if I am in a good mood and have nothing else to do.  This is not a Social Security program. Instead, it’s a supplemental benefit offered by some Medicare Advantage Part C insurance plans.

Another call I sometimes get is from someone asking me if I still have back pain. Since I am old, I guess they assume a lot of old people have back pain. I don't. I think this is a Medicare scam. If I stay on the line, they will transfer me to a doctor to diagnose me over the phone. I never let the call go that long, but I have learned I am entitled to a back brace, and they will send it to me at no cost. These calls are almost always from someone with a lilting Indian accent. 

I hope the coalition of attorneys general can succeed in stopping these scam calls. The coalition filed comments supporting proposed FCC rules that would help prevent criminals from exploiting legitimate phone numbers to carry out robocall and text message scams. 

"Scammers are constantly changing tactics to stay one step ahead, and we have to be just as relentless in protecting consumers," said Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. "Cracking down on illegal spoofing made a real difference, but now bad actors are exploiting legitimate phone numbers to gain consumers' trust. These commonsense reforms will make it harder for scammers to operate and easier for law enforcement to track them down and hold them accountable."

In a press release, Skrmetti said Americans received an estimated 29.6 billion scam robocalls and text messages last year and lost nearly $2 billion to these schemes.

To better protect consumers, the bipartisan coalition is urging the FCC to:

• Require companies that purchase and resell North American phone numbers to meet stronger certification standards and disclose how and to whom numbers are assigned.
• 
  
• Require regular reporting on the sale and use of phone numbers so law enforcement can trace illegal robocalls to their source and hold companies throughout the call chain accountable.
• 
  
• Require applicants seeking access to phone numbers to certify they will not use them to facilitate illegal robocalls.
• 
  
• Prevent the sale of phone numbers to entities that are not connected to a legitimate calling or texting service.
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• Prohibit "number cycling," the practice of rapidly rotating through large blocks of phone numbers to evade spam detection tools.
• 
  
• Restrict the availability of trial phone numbers that scammers can exploit to carry out fraudulent schemes.

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