Local Election Guide - Voting starts this Friday
Because turnout tends to be low in primary and local elections, we have an outsized opportunity to choose representatives who will uphold life, liberty, and justice.
Dear Friends,
For readers living in Knox County, Tennessee, I am recommending these candidates based on my own research and principles:
Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate
Tim Burchett for U.S. House of Representative District 2
Monica Irvine for Tennessee Senate District 6
Jason Zachary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 14
Justin Hirst for Tennessee House of Representatives District 15
Michele Carringer for Tennessee House of Representatives District 16
Elaine Davis for Tennessee House of Representatives District 18
Dave Wright for Tennessee House of Representatives District 19
Justin Lafferty for Tennessee House of Representatives District 89
Hector I. Sanchez for Criminal Court Judge Division II District 6
Charles Frazier for County Commission District 1
Debbie Phillips for County Commission District 2
Garrett Hold for County Commission District 4
Angela Russell for County Commission District 5
Terry Hill for County Commission District 6
Adam Thompson for County Commission District 8
Andy Fox for County Commission District 9
Phil Ballard for Assessor of Property
David L. Buuck for County Law Director
Pat Polis for Board of Education District 2
Angie Goethert for Board of Education District 3
Lauren Morgan for Board of Education District 5
Travis Wright for Board of Education District 8
Alexander J. Cain for Town of Farragut Alderman, Ward 1
Randal Roberts for Town of Farragut Alderman, Ward 2
Retain Dwight Tarwater as a Judge of the Supreme Court
Retain Matthew Wilson as Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Division
Early voting begins this Friday, July 12, and runs through Saturday, July 27. Election day is Thursday, August 1. In west Knox County, early votes can be cast at the Knox County Election Commission at 109 Lovell Heights Road; other early voting locations are published here. Early voting hours are 10am – 6pm on weekdays and 10am – 3pm on Saturday.
Before going to vote, I recommend printing the sample ballot for the Republican Primary, marking it up, and taking it with you.
The most important race in this election is for Tennessee Senate District 6 (district map available here), where Monica Irvine is trying to unseat incumbent Becky Duncan Massey. In the 2023 legislative session, Massey supported legislation which would have weakened our Human Life Protection Act, and she has a grade of “F” for leadership from conservative outlet Tennessee Stands. By contrast, Monica Irvine is an active volunteer for Tennessee Right to Life, and she is a strong conservative on other issues. Irvine has the endorsement of the Tennessee Right to Life PAC and Knox County Conservative Republicans. In addition to voting for her, please consider supporting Irvine’s campaign.
I’m not crazy about Senator Marsha Blackburn. She has a history of supporting exceptions to the right to life. However, her opponent in the Republican primary, Tres Wittum, doesn’t appear to be a serious candidate. His website is disorganized and incomplete, and his email address (tres@treswittum) doesn’t function. Good ideas are a dime-a-dozen, but execution really matters. Blackburn is strong on other issues, and she uses her bully pulpit well. And she can easily win in November.
For most races, I have relied on party affiliation to make my recommendations. To quote Dan Bongino: “Republicans may not solve all your problems, but Democrats are definitely the cause of them.” However, the Town of Farragut elections are non-partisan, and some races include candidates running as “Independents”. So I went to the Knox County Election Commission and pulled the personal voting records of all non-partisan and independent candidates. These records don’t tell exactly how a person voted, but they do tell (1) how often a person votes, and (2) whether they vote in the Republican or Democratic primaries.
For the Town of Farragut, Ward 1, I have recommended Alex Cain over Jeffrey Devlin, primarily because Devlin voted in the Democratic primaries in 2022, 2020, and 2016. I also met with Cain; his top priority is stopping the urbanization of Farragut, especially new apartment complexes. He also wants to alter the Town’s processes to invite and respect the participation of Farragut citizens. In Farragut Ward 2, both Burnette and Roberts have solid Republican voting histories, but I have recommended Roberts over incumbent Burnette on the advice of some people I respect. Both Cain and Roberts have the endorsement of Knox County Conservative Republicans.
The race for Board of Education, District 2, does not have a Republican candidate. The candidates are Democrat Anne Templeton and two Independents: Jennifer Owen and Pat Polis. I have recommended Pat Polis over Jennifer Owen, because Owen voted in the Democratic primary in 2018. (She did, however, vote in the Republican primaries in 2020 and 2022.) Patrick Polis has consistently voted in Republican primaries going all the way back to 2002.
For Knox County Commission District 1, I have recommended Republican Debbie Phillips over Independent candidate Ethan Grantham, because Grantham has never voted in a primary election. (He has voted in general elections since 2008.) You aren’t serious about your civic duties if you can’t get out to vote in the primaries.
For Knox County Commission District 9, I have recommended Republican Andy Fox over Independent candidate Stacey Smith. Although Smith has consistently voted in Republican primaries, Fox has a well-organized website articulating strong conservative positions. Frankly, I couldn’t find much information on Smith, and it’s hard to win in November without the backing of a party.
I have recommended the retention of Supreme Court Judge Dwight Tarwater based on Tarwater’s personal voting record and the advice of a local attorney I trust. Tarwater has voted in every election, always in Republican primaries, going all the way back to 1983.
Judge Matthew J. Wilson doesn’t live in Knox County, so I couldn’t pull his voting record. However, I am recommending his retention, because he is a member of the Federalist Society.
I hope this information makes it easier for you all to get out and vote! Please consider forwarding this email to your friends and family.
Jennifer Hay
Knoxville Nobility
Jennifer.Hay@KnoxvilleNobility.com
865.804.9721
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