Other GOP candidates include now-pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Stewart Parks; Metro Nashville Police Department Detective Joe Leurs ; businessman Stuart Cooper ; former Tennessee state Senate staffer Tres Wittum , who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race in 2022; Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight ; 28-year-old political newcomer Mason Foley; and businessman Adolph Agbéko Dagan.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 4=2DDlQAcQms6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D :?4=F56 DE2E6 #6AD] q@ |:E496==[ ':?46?E s:I:6 2?5 p7EJ? q69? — 2== @7 H9@> C6AC6D6?E }2D9G:==6 5:DEC:4ED — 2D H6== 2D A@=:E:42= DEC2E68:DE s2C56? r@A6=2?5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmx?56A6?56?E 42?5:52E6D :?4=F56 %6C6D2 “%6CC:” r9C:DE:6[ q@33J s@586[ #@36CE y2>6D $FE96C3J 2?5 y@? %9@CA]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm%96 fE9 s:DEC:4E AC:>2CJ H:== E2<6 A=246 ~4E] f W62C=J G@E:?8 $6AE] `f\~4E] aX[ H:E9 E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? E@ 7@==@H @? s64] a W62C=J G@E:?8 }@G] `a\aeX]k^Am
From left: Rep. Gino Bulso, Matt Van Epps, Rep. Jody Barrett, Rep. Lee Reeves
k9a 4=2DDlQAeQm%@A xDDF6D[ u:CDE q:==Dk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmt249 #6AF3=:42? 42?5:52E6 92D 366? H@C<:?8 E@ 4@?G:?46 G@E6CD E92E 96 W2== `` 2C6 >6?X DE2?5D 23@G6 E96 @E96CD 2D E96 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^6=6G2E6\a_ad\DH66AD\6=64E:@?\2E\H:==:2>D@?\4@F?EJ\8@A\C6@C82?:K2E:@?\4@?G6?E:@?^2CE:4=605aebfca6\7hgf\``67\g6gc\7f764ebcceff]9E>=n08=l`Y8EcFa3Y0FAY|"]]Y082Y|%4H|s"d|spb~$cI}K&`}Kpa}%4aY0820fzy%t)*fs`Y4Ktb}%&b|s*`}K&<3Kt<+Kt<5stb}%&b|s*`~s|<2;&JyvHHyv8HY0820c%atq`cfqgY4Ktb}%&b|s*`}K&<3Kt<+Kp<5stb}%&b|s*`~s|<2;&JyvHHyv8HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmECF6 4@?D6CG2E:G6k^2m” 2?5 E96 >@DE |pvp 42?5:52E6 — @C 2E =62DE E96 @?6 H9@ 4@F=5 AFD9 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D 286?52 E96 7FCE96DE :? E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D] p== E96 #6AF3=:42? 7C@?E\CF??6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:==:2>D@?D46?6]4@>^?6HD^4@?8C6DD:@?2=\42?5:52E6D\DFAA@CE\?2E:@?2=\8F2C5\56A=@J>6?E\E@\>6>A9:D^2CE:4=60bc6abgga\h42g\d``6\g_6c\gf3b76efa_6a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDFAA@CE E96 A@E6?E:2= 56A=@J>6?E @7 E96 }2E:@?2= vF2C5 :? |6>A9:Dk^2m — D@>6E9:?8 4@?D:56C65 3J %CF>A 2D 96 4@?E:?F6D E@ 56A=@J D@=5:6CD :? s6>@4C2E:4\=62?:?8 4:E:6D[ 2==6865=J E@ 4@>32E 4C:>6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm#66G6D H2D 6=64E65 E@ E96 DE2E6 w@FD6 :? a_ac 7@==@H:?8 2 7=@@5 @7 @FE\@7\DE2E6 !pr >@?6J 2?5 2? 6?5@CD6>6?E 7C@> v@G] q:== {66] w:D D9@CE E6?FC6 367@C6 =2F?49:?8 J6E 2?@E96C 42>A2:8? 92D 366? 2 D@FC46 @7 4C:E:4:D> 7C@> 9:D @AA@?6?ED] #66G6D 92D D2:5 E92E :7 6=64E65[ 9:D 7:CDE 3:== H@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ac^`a^ae^?I\D`\daaad_h^H92E\H@F=5\:E\>62?\7@C\E96\F\D\E@\6?5\3:CE9C:89E\4:E:K6?D9:AQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm6?5 3:CE9C:89E 4:E:K6?D9:Ak^2m 7@C 49:=5C6? @7 F?5@4F>6?E65 :>>:8C2?ED — 56DA:E6 E96 724E E92E 2 3:== H:E9 E92E 2:> H2D 2=C625J 7:=65 3J #6AF3=:42?D >@?E9D 28@] #66G6D 2C8F6D E92E E96 4FCC6?E 3:== 92D?’E 366? A2DD65[ 2?5 A:E496D 9:>D6=7 2D 2? 67764E:G6 =68:D=2E@C H9@ 42? 24EF2==J 86E 3:==D >@G65 E9C@F89 E96 w@FD6] w6 92D AC@>:D65 E@ “56>28?6E:K6” %6??6DD66 :? C682C5 E@ :==682= :>>:8C2E:@?] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmqF=D@[ 2 D6=7\56D4C:365 “4F=EFC6 H2CC:@C” :? E96 DE2E6 w@FD6[ D2JD 96’D CF??:?8 E@ “8:G6 E96 A6@A=6 E96 EJA6 @7 8@G6C?>6?E E92E E96:C 7@F?56CD A=65865 E96:C =:G6D[ E96:C 9@?@CD 2?5 E96:C D24C65 7@CEF?6D 7@C]” %96 qC6?EH@@5 #6AF3=:42? D2JD 9:D 7:CDE A:646 @7 DA@?D@C65 =68:D=2E:@? H@F=5 C6BF:C6 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ A2DD 2 32=2?465 3F586E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“~FC @AA@D:E:@? :D @FC @H? 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E92E 92D 8C@H? :? D4@A6 H2J 36J@?5 E96 A@H6CD E92E H6C6 AC@A6C=J 56=682E65 E@ :E 3J @FC r@?DE:EFE:@?[” qF=D@ D2JD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmq2CC6EE D2JD 9:D E@A :DDF6 :D 6?DFC:?8 7656C2= “6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ[” 3FE E92E 9:D 7:CDE DA@?D@C65 3:== H@F=5 2:> E@ C6A=:42E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^93`\A2DD6D\67764E:G6=J\32??:?8\86?56C\277:C>:?8\42C6\7@C\J@FE9^2CE:4=60e`deb3ec\3b3d\``65\227h\53g6h235c42g]9E>=n08=l`Y`FbJ8ABY0FAY|"]]Y082Y|;pK}%xc}s4H}JcI}K&b|%tJ|;xJY0820)s{()bz_(#Y4Ktb}%4I|%xJ|;t<3Kt<+Kt<5stb}%4I|%xJ|;*<2;&`yvHHyv8HY0820c%atq`cfqgY4Ktb}%4I|%xJ|;t<3Kt<+Kp<5stb}%4I|%xJ|;*<2;&`yvHHyv8HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%6??6DD66’D 32? @? 86?56C\277:C>:?8 42C6 7@C EC2?D J@FE9k^2m 2E E96 ?2E:@?2= =6G6=] q2CC6EE 4=2:>D EC2?D A6@A=6 “92G6 366? D@=5 2 3:== @7 8@@5D 2?5 366? 52>2865[” 2?5 E92E “E96 C286 E92E 4@>6D @FE :D H92E >2?:76DED :ED6=7 :? E96D6 D49@@= D9@@E:?8D 2?5 E96 G:@=6?46]” w6 92D 2=D@ E@FE65 9:D 2?E:\D49@@=\G@F496C DE2?46i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^DA64:2=\D6DD:@?\G@F496CD\6?5D^2CE:4=60bfcabeb`\egf3\dfh4\3e57\3e6d74a354f5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmsFC:?8 E9:D J62C’D DA64:2= D6DD:@?k^2m[ q2CC6EE DE@@5 2A2CE 7C@> v@G] q:== {66 2?5 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD9:A :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 =2C86=J v~!\324<65 G@F496C =68:D=2E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm'2? tAAD 92D D2:5 E96 7:CDE 3:== 96 :?E6?5D E@ DA@?D@C H:== 36 “E@
DFAA@CE G6E6C2?D[” 4:E:?8 :DDF6D DF49 2D :?G6DE:?8 :? 49:=5 42C6 2?5 962=E9 42C6 7@C G6ED] w6 92D 2=D@ A:E4965 2 “`a\>@?E9 E2I\7C66 ,A6C:@5. 7@C G6E6C2?D” H9@ 2C6 EC2?D:E:@?:?8 @FE @7 E96 >:=:E2CJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm(9:=6 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D H:== @7 4@FCD6 AF3=:4=J DE2E6 E92E E96J :?E6?5 E@ H:? E96 C246[ AC:G2E6=J[ >2?J s6>@4C2ED 24<?@H=6586 E92E E96 FA9:== 32EE=6 :D >@C6 2<:? E@ D42=:?8 2 A@=:E:42= >@F?E2:?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“s2G:5D@? r@F?EJ @?=J C6AC6D6?ED 23@FE a_ A6C46?E @7 E9:D 5:DEC:4E[” |:E496== E@=5 k6>m!@DEk^6>m D:DE6C AF3=:42E:@? E96 k6>m}2D9G:==6k^6>m k6>m$46?6k^6>m :? yF=J] “%9:D C246 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 H@? @C =@DE — :? E96 AC:>2CJ 2?5 E96 86?6C2= — @?46 J@F 4C@DD E96 s2G:5D@? r@F?EJ =:?6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm%92E 5@6D?’E >62? s6>@4C2ED 2C6?’E AFEE:?8 FA 2 7:89E] q69? — 2 =@?8E:>6 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K6C[ @?6 @7 E96 J@F?86DE 42?5:52E6D @? 6:E96C D:56 2?5 E96 @?=J H@>2? :? E96 C246 — 92D >256 D6G6C2= ?2E:@?2= E6=6G:D:@? 2AA62C2?46D :? C646?E H66<D] $@>6 s6>@4C2ED 92G6 AC:G2E6=J 4C:E:4:K65 q69?’D AC6D6?46 :? E96 C246 2D 2 >62?D @7 6=6G2E:?8 96C ?2E:@?2= AC@7:=6[ A@:?E:?8 @FE E92E D96 5@6D?’E 24EF2==J =:G6 :? E96 fE9]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“x? E96 >@DE |pvp\86CCJ>2?56C65 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4E :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ x =:G6 H2=<:?8 5:DE2?46 7C@> E96 =:?6[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^4:EJ=:>:ED^fE9\4@?8C6DD:@?2=\5:DEC:4E\42?5:52E6D^2CE:4=60e`466eb3\2g`e\cf`_\g2`e\`4567dc665ca]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmq69? E@=5 E96 k6>m$46?6k^6>m :? =2E6 yF=Jk^2m[ 255:?8 E92E D96’== >@G6 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E :7 D96 H:?D 2?5 2C8F:?8 E92E “E9:D >@>6?E C6BF:C6D A6@A=6 =:<6 >6 H9@ @776C 762C=6DD =6256CD9:A 2?5 >66E E96 >@>6?E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmp== 7@FC s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D =:DE 6IA2?5:?8 2446DD E@ 962=E9 42C6[ 65F42E:@? 2?5 49:=5 42C6 2>@?8 E96:C E@A AC:@C:E:6D[ 2D H6== 2D 255C6DD:?8 277@C523:=:EJ :? 9@FD:?8 2?5 8C@46C:6D] sFC:?8 2 $6AE] f 7@CF> :? u2:CG:6H[ 2== 7@FC 4C:E:4:K65 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D 56A=@J>6?E @7 E96 }2E:@?2= vF2C5 :? 3=F6 4:E:6D 2?5 D:8?2=65 DFAA@CE 7@C 4@>AC696?D:G6 :>>:8C2E:@? C67@C>] %96J 2== A=65865 E@ 9@=5 C68F=2C E@H? 92==D[ :7 6=64E65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“x 2> E96 42?5:52E6 E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ :?DA:C6 2 =@E @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ 86E :?G@=G65 :? %6??6DD66 A@=:E:4D[” q69? D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 7@CF>] “x’> E96 42?5:52E6 E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 3C:?8 2 ?2E:@?2= A@=:E:42= 2AA2C2EFD H:E9 FD E@ >@3:=:K6 E96 G@E6D 2?5 >@?6J ?646DD2CJ E@ 56762E E96 #6AF3=:42?D]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm|:E496== D2JD 9:D DEC2E68J :?4=F56D =62?:?8 @? 9:D 6I:DE:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 4@>>F?:EJ =6256CD :? E96 fE9 s:DEC:4E] “x’> ?@E 92G:?8 E@ :?EC@5F46 >JD6=7 @C 4@?G:?46 2?J3@5J[” 96 D2JD[ “2?5 :? 2 D9@CE E:>6DA2? =:<6 E9:D[ E92E <:?5 @7 8:G6D >6 2? 25G2?E286]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“%9:D :D 2 C62= @AA@CEF?:EJ =:<6 H6’G6 ?6G6C 925 :? 2 =@?8 E:>6 :? %6??6DD66[” |:E496== D2JD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“!6@A=6 92G6 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E E96:C =:G6D 2C6 =:E6C2==J 2E DE2<6 C:89E ?@H[” D2JD s:I:6] “p?5 86EE:?8 E96> E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 D6G6C:EJ @7 H92E E9:D G@E6 >62?D — H6 92G6 E@ 86E A6@A=6 @FE E@ G@E6 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ C6AC6D6?E E96:C :?E6C6DED]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“%9:D :D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 86E D@>6@?6 :? E92E D62E E92E’D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ ;FDE 36 2 CF336C\DE2>A ;FDE 3642FD6 @7 H9@6G6C E96 AC6D:56?E :D[” s:I:6 D2JD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmx? E2<:?8 @? E9C66 6=64E65 DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D H:E9 >@C6 ?2>6 C64@8?:E:@?[ r@A6=2?5 D2JD 96’D “?@E 27C2:5 @7 2 492==6?86” 2?5 A:E496D 9:>D6=7 2D 2 “4@2=:E:@? 3F:=56C]” w6 D2JD E96 A2DD286 @7 %CF>A’D “q:8 q62FE:7F= q:==” 2?5 E96 567F?5:?8 @7 AF3=:4 >65:2 2C6 3@E9 :>A@CE2?E :DDF6D 2?5 6I2>A=6D @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ DE@A #6AF3=:42? 677@CED E@ 49:A 2H2J 2E AF3=:4 :?DE:EFE:@?D 2?5 :?:E:2E:G6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“(6 ?665 E@ A:4< FA E9:D D62E[ 2?5 H6 42?’E 8:G6 ,#6AF3=:42?D. 2?@E96C J62C @7 H:??:?8
G@E6D 2?5 4FEE:?8 H@C<:?8\4=2DD 2?5 3C625\2?5\3FEE6C :DDF6D 2?5 7F?5:?8 @FE @7 H92E’D 366?
2AAC@G65 3J r@?8C6DD[”
r@A6 =2?5 D2JD] “%96J’C6 H:??:?8 3J @?6 2?5 EH@ 2?5 E9C66
G@E6D [ D@ E9:D 6=64E:@? C62==J >2EE6CD]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“(6’C6 2E 2 A@:?E H96C6 A@=:E:4:2?D 2C6 A:4<:?8 E96:C G@E6CD 2?5 ?@E =6EE:?8 G@E6CD A:4< E96:C A@=:E:4:2?D[” r@A6=2?5 E@=5 E96 k6>m$46?6k^6>m 2E E96 u2:CG:6H 7@CF>] “qFE x E9:?< E92E’D E96 C62D@? E92E x’> 8@:?8 E@ 6G6CJ 4@C?6C @7 E96 5:DEC:4E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQms:I:6 D2JD 96 42? >@3:=:K6 q=24< G@E6CD :? }2D9G:==6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm“x E9:?< E92E 7@C 2== @7 E96 s6>@4C2ED[ E96 DEC2E68J =:6D H:E9:? E96 E@A E9C66 A@AF=@FD 4@F?E:6D[ H9:49 2C6 |@?E8@>6CJ[ (:==:2>D@? 2?5 s2G:5D@?[” q69? D2:5 2E E96 7@CF>] “$@ x E9:?< 2 =@E @7 E96 @C82?:K:?8 92D E@ 92AA6? :? E96D6 E9C66 4@F?E:6D E@ >@3:=:K6 G@E6CD] u@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ E96D6 2C6 9:89=J 6?82865[ 9:89=J 65F42E65 G@E6CD H9@ ;FDE ?665 E96 C:89E :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 2 =@E @7 E96> 5@?’E 6G6? <?@H E96C6’D 2 DA64:2= 6=64E:@? 8@:?8 @?]”k^Am
From left: Rep. Aftyn Behn, Rep. Bo Mitchell, Rep. Vincent Dixie, Darden Copeland
k9a 4=2DDlQAdQmt?5@CD6>6?EDk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmq2CC6EE 92D 62C?65 6?5@CD6>6?ED 7C@> 4@?D6CG2E:G6 ?@?AC@7:E %6??6DD66 $E2?5D[ 4@F?ECJ >FD:4:2? y@9? #:49 W9:D 49:=59@@5 7C:6?5X 2?5 E96 w@FD6 uC665@> uF?5[ 2 H:?8 @7 E96 uC665@> r2F4FD] #66G6D 92D 366? 6?5@CD65 3J 6G6CJ (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ >2J@C[ z?@I r@F?EJ |2J@C v=6?? y24@3D[ DE2E6 $6?2E6 |2;@C:EJ {6256C y24< y@9?D@? W#\uC2?<=:?X 2?5 E96 }6HE v:?8C:49\7@F?565 v~!pr @C82?:K2E:@?] qF=D@ E@FED 2? 6?5@CD6>6?E 7C@> }p$rp# w2== @7 u2>6 >6>36C 2?5 uC2?<=:? 3FD:?6DD>2? s2CC6== (2=EC:A] '2? tAAD[ E96 7:CDE #6AF3=:42? E@ 6?E6C E96 C246[ H2D 6?5@CD65 3J vC66?[ H:E9 H9@> 96 D6CG65 :? 2 DA64:2= @A6C2E:@?D C68:>6?E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQmx? C646?E H66<D[ D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D 92G6 364@>6 >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 AF3=:4=J 4C:E:4:K:?8 vC66?[ 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?@EFD]@C8^4@?8C6DD^DFA6C\4286J\C6A\>2C<\8C66?\>JDE6C:@FD\C6D:8?2E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9:D 232?5@?>6?E @7 E96 D62E 7@C 2 AC:G2E6\D64E@C ;@3k^2m E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^>2C<\8C66?\2772:C\52F89E6C^2CE:4=60e2_e73_4\fcc_\``67\hgfd\ef_54c_`4_ab]9E>=Qm9:D 4@?E6?E:@FD 2?5 9:89\AC@7:=6 5:G@C46k^2m] $@>6 #6AF3=:42? 42?5:52E6D 92G6 >256 2 A@:?E E@ 5:DE2?46 E96>D6=G6D 7C@> vC66?] '2? tAAD D2JD[ 56DA:E6 2?J 4C:E:4:D> D@>6 @7 9:D 76==@H 42?5:52E6D >2J 92G6 @7 vC66?[ 96’D “9@?@C65 E@ 92G6 9:D 6?5@CD6>6?E 2?5 6I4:E65 E92E 96’D 369:?5 @FC 42>A2:8?]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm|:E496== 92D 366? 6?5@CD65 3J 2 D=6H @7 F?:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 }2D9G:==6 xC@?H@C<6CD cha[ %62>DE6CD {@42= cg_[ qC@E96C9@@5 @7 {@4@>@E:G6 t?8:?66CD 2?5 %C2:?>6?[ 2?5 E96 !=F>36CD[ u:EE6CD[ (6=56CD 2?5 $6CG:46 %649?:4:2?D {@42= &?:@?] w6 92D 2=D@ 62C?65 E96 DFAA@CE @7 7@C>6C dE9 s:DEC:4E &]$] #6A] q@3 r=6>6?E 2?5 }2D9G:==6VD s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 $6?] w6:5: r2>A36==]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQms:I:6 92D 366? 6?5@CD65 3J 9:D 76==@H s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 #6A] yFDE:? !62CD@? @7 |6>A9:D[ H9:=6 q69? 92D 366? 6?5@CD65 3J w6C q@=5 |@G6[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E92E DFAA@CED H@>6? 42?5:52E6D]k^Am
This story was first published as part of a package, Gerrymandering Works , by Post sister publication the Nashville Scene.
