Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read November 2022 – Early voting came to a close on Thursday in the Volunteer State, with key Tennessee state and congressional races hanging in the balance and constitutional amendments also at stake.
In Nashville, voters will help determine the state’s next governor as well as representatives on Capitol Hill and in the state legislature.
Incumbent Gov. Bill Lee is up against Democratic candidate and critical care physician Jason Martin, with polling from late October published by RABA Research showing 52% of respondents are in favor of Lee compared to 28% for Martin.
Lee’s platform is focused on creating good jobs, quality schools and safety in neighborhoods and communities. On Oct. 31, Lee, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and Landmark Recover officials announced the company’s expansion in Franklin, which includes an investment of $7.5 million and 1,300 new jobs at the addiction recovery center’s headquarters, according to a TNECD press release.
Spotlight On: Lyndi Berrones, Northern Middle Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Prior to throwing his hat in the ring for office, Martin served as chief resident at the Nashville Veteran Affairs Medical Center and a doctor at Nashville General. His platform is geared toward safe communities, investment in infrastructure, a strong and trained workforce and lean and efficient government.
First-term Gov. Lee has expressed no plans to take part in a debate against Martin, telling reporters last month that he’s “most focused on being the governor right now,” as cited by AP News. Martin called Lee’s decline to debate “a reflection on his lack of leadership as governor.”
The lack of debates both in the governor’s race as well as congressional districts in Nashville reflect a larger trend where candidates view debating with little upside and an invitation for magnified mistakes, according to NPR.
Aside from the governor’s race, Nashville’s Districts 5 and 7 are up for grabs. Earlier this year, Tennessee Republicans redrew the congressional map to include more of the rural counties that have a conservative base.
District 5 is a face-off between Democratic State Sen. Heidi Campbell and Republican candidate Andy Ogles, mayor of Maury County. According to Axios Nashville, Ogles is viewed as the front-runner in the newly drawn district that was previously held by Rep. Jim Cooper for two decades.
In District 7, incumbent Rep. Mark Green is facing Democratic candidate and community organizer Odessa Kelly. Green, known as a staunch conservative with previous experience in the General Assembly, is focused on tackling inflation and immigration while Kelly has been vocal about affordable housing and Medicare expansion.
In addition to the local and state races, Tennessee voters will decide on four proposed amendments to the state Constitution, including whether to add the state’s right-to-work law. According to WPLN, some workers rights advocates argue the amendment may reduce workers’ safety net while supporters of the amendment say the right-to-work law has created employment growth in the state.
According to the midterm survey by RABA Research, 44% of voters intend to vote “yes” for Amendment 1 while 19% plan on voting “no.” The survey showed 38% of voters are undecided.
Amendment 2 defines the line of succession in the event that the governor is incapacitated while Amendment 3 irradicates all forms of slavery, including as a punishment for a crime committed. Lastly, Amendment 4, if approved, would remove a ban on clergy from serving in the General Assembly. The ban hasn’t been enforced since 1978, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.
READ MORE: Off to the races: Tennessee’s 2022 midterm elections take shape
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