Nashville voters can now cast their ballots for the Nov. 5 election , which includes races that touch every level of government.
Why it matters: In addition to the presidential race, which is sure to draw crowds, voters will decide on a sweeping overhaul of the city's transportation system. Other races will determine Middle Tennessee's representatives in Congress and at the state Capitol.
How to vote
⏲️ Early voting begins Oct. 16 and lasts through Oct. 31. In Nashville, voters can cast a ballot at any of the 13 early voting locations around the city. Be sure to check the list, as some locations have changed.
- A new location has been added at the Lentz Public Health Center on Charlotte Avenue.
🇺🇸 Election Day voting: Polling places will be open 7am–7pm on Nov. 5. Election Day voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling places.
The referendum
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has proposed a $3.1 billion plan to overhaul the city's transportation network , which will appear on the ballot as a referendum.
- If voters approve the measure, the city's sales tax would be increased by 0.5% to create a dedicated funding source for transportation.
The big picture: Proponents say the plan would dramatically expand bus service, add miles of new sidewalks, shorten commutes, and bolster safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Supporters are seeking to win over skeptics who sank the 2018 transit referendum . They have stressed that O'Connell's plan will benefit residents who don't use public transit through upgrades like improved traffic light technology.
The other side: An opposition group that formed to defeat the referendum is critical of raising the sales tax to create a funding source for transit.
- Former Metro Council Member Emily Evans said raising the sales tax to fund transportation "puts the burden disproportionately on the poor."
Go deeper: Read the entire November ballot , including the wording for the transportation referendum, which is listed last.
U.S. Senate
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn will face Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson in Tennessee's Senate election.
- Blackburn, a Republican, is heavily favored to win against Johnson, her Democratic challenger.
Johnson gained a national profile last year as part of the so-called " Tennessee Three " — a trio of Democrats who led a protest for gun control on the floor of the House chamber.
- The retired teacher has focused her campaign on abortion access, lowering prescription costs and fighting for gun reforms.
- Johnson has criticized Blackburn for opposing legislation capping insulin prices while taking donations from pharmaceutical companies.
Blackburn's campaign has castigated Johnson as a "radical socialist." Blackburn is a staunch supporter of former President Trump, who is also expected to win Tennessee.
- In a campaign ad this summer, Blackburn touted her work to protect children on social media through bipartisan legislation.
- A more recent ad recounts Blackburn's 1999 fight against a state income tax, which put her at odds with the Republican governor.
Zoom out: Johnson is simultaneously running for U.S. Senate and to retain her Tennessee House seat, where she represents the Knoxville area.
U.S. House
This is the second election cycle since state lawmakers redrew Tennessee's congressional map to convert Nashville from a safe Democratic district into three majority-Republican districts.
- As a result, three Republican House members who represent the Nashville area enter the election as apparent favorites.
5th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has the backing of former President Trump.
- Ogles, who lives in Maury County, spent his freshman term in Congress under intense scrutiny for campaign finance issues. He confirmed over the summer that he was under federal investigation , and he later sued to have his cellphone returned by the FBI.
Maryam Abolfazli is a first-time candidate who became one of the state's most prominent gun control advocates in the wake of The Covenant School shooting last year.
- Abolfazli spent her early career working on international economic development.
6th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. John Rose is running for reelection before a possible bid for governor in 2026.
- His Democratic opponent is activist Lore Bergman , who is considered a decisive underdog.
7th Congressional District
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Green announced he wouldn't run for reelection earlier this year, before changing his mind at the behest of former President Trump and other Republicans.
- In recent weeks, his campaign has been sidetracked by drama after his wife accused him of having an affair.
Green's opponent is former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry , who has staged a well-funded challenge featuring a robust ground game and two television ads.
Tennessee statehouse
The most closely contested statehouse race in Nashville features veteran state Rep. Bo Mitchell, a Democrat, facing a challenge from Republican Metro Council Member Jennifer Frensley Webb .
- Mitchell has faced tough challenges from Republicans in the past and never lost. He recently ran an ad attacking Webb .
The big picture: State Democrats are hopeful they can chip away at the Republicans' 75-member supermajority in the Tennessee House.
- The Nashville Banner reports Democratic groups are targeting as many as nine seats as potential flips.
Zoom in: Democrats see districts in and around the state's rapidly growing population centers as their best bets. That includes seats in Rutherford, Shelby and Knox counties, per the Banner.
The other side: Republicans are sure to maintain a tight grip on power, even in a best-case scenario for Democrats.
- The Tennessee Journal reports Republicans are seeking to grow their supermajority by ousting Democratic incumbents they see as vulnerable, including Mitchell.
Local News
Comments / 0