Democrats think they can flip a South Knox County seat because of a divided GOP

Knox County Democrats trying to flip a Knox County Commission seat are counting on division within the Republican Party to help.

Democrats think Matthew Park has a shot to win the District 9 seat in South Knoxville and South Knox County on Aug. 1. Even Republicans say GOP candidate Andy Fox has turned off some voters with his focus on national cultural issues instead of local ones, and that independent Stacey Bryan Smith, who leans conservative, could split off other typical Republican voters.

Buddy Burkhardt, chair of the Knox County Republican Party, told Knox News some moderate Republicans are so turned off by some GOP candidates with extreme views on hot-button issues that they might vote Democratic.

The race is wide open because Commissioner Carson Dailey is term-limited in the seat that's traditionally a lock for Republicans.

But in this election, Republicans aren't exactly rallying behind Fox. Park received nearly twice as many donations than Fox in the second quarter of the year: $30,794.67 from 327 donations for Park vs. $17,542.67 from 42 donations for Fox.

Even some influential Republicans are donating money to Park .

Park said a pragmatic approach over a partisan one is resonating because voters understand county-level positions are about providing basic services for residents.

"I would say what might seem like a break in the Republican Party is really just the people of South Knoxville unified behind the need for paving roads and having ambulances on time and protecting our rural spaces," Park told Knox News.

VOTER GUIDE: Knox County Commission, law director, property assessor candidates for 2024

Republican candidate Fox zeroed in on national issues

The top of Fox's campaign website warns that Knox County Democrats would allow "Soros-backed social justice district attorneys," a "rampant homeless population defecating and urinating in public" and high crime.

Fox highlights his legal work on fighting for guns in public parks and anti-abortion protests, and against COVID-era mask requirements and allowing transgender athletes in women's sports.

In a community Facebook group, Fox said Democrats "create crises or exploit crises , or redefine a phenomenon as a crisis, drum up emotion, and then offer their solutions that are ultimately not helpful and sometimes completely counterproductive."

He declined to speak to Knox News or participate in our candidate interviews. In a written questionnaire, Fox told Knox News he would counteract the "tendency of Knoxville leaders to enact reckless policies."

Jack Vaughan, a Democratic campaign manager and executive committee member for the state Democratic Party, said Park has a better chance of beating Fox because primary voters selected a far-right candidate over a moderate one.

"I think a lot of Republicans and Democrats are not looking for that kind of ideological warrior," Park said.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Democrats think they can flip a South Knox County seat because of a divided GOP