Tennessee Primary Elections: Races to watch on Aug. 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — August 1 is Election Day in Tennessee and voters will get to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate in multiple primary elections.

However, despite low voter turnout this year compared to the 2020 primary , several consequential races are on the ballot for both Democratic and Republican voters.

Below are three of the major storylines to watch on August 1.

U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Gloria Johnson and Marquita Bradshaw have been focusing their race for US Senate on ousting Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, but before either can face the incumbent, they need to win the party’s nomination.

Johnson is a Democrat from Knoxville who is a retired special education teacher and currently serves in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Johnson made national headlines last year as a member of the “Tennessee Three.” The Democratic trio faced expulsion in the Statehouse after the Covenant shooting because they broke House rules as they advocated for gun reform on the floor.

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While all three of the lawmakers broke chamber rules, Johnson is the only one of the three to survive expulsion. Johnson kept her seat by one vote, but state Reps. Pearson and Jones were expelled—though, in an August 2023 special election, both Jones and Pearson won their seats back in landslide victories.

Marquita Bradshaw is an environmental activist from Memphis who has previously run for a US Senate seat. In 2020, Bradshaw ran against now-Senator Bill Hagerty.

While Bradshaw did get more than a million votes, Hagerty ultimately received 62% of the vote compared to her 35%.

Both women say they can defeat Sen. Blackburn in November by focusing on issues with broad appeal like abortion, gun reform, and the environment.

U.S CONGRESS DISTRICT 5 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Thursday’s elections could cost one sitting member of Congress his seat. Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles is facing a well-funded primary challenger for the 5th congressional district.

Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston currently represents Nashville’s 26th district, which includes parts of Berry Hill and areas near Brentwood.

In 2022, former Maury County mayor Andy Ogles won a competitive Republican primary before winning the general election by a 14-point margin. Ogles also received the endorsement of former President Trump.

However, Johnston’s campaign has been blanketing the airwaves with ads attacking Ogles.

Johnston says the one-term congressman has embarrassed Tennessee and has used his time in office to make headlines rather than pass laws.

Ogles has introduced more than 70 bills in his first term including Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Kamala Harris and the “Liberty in Laundry Act,” which would prohibit the US Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy conservation standards for clothes washers.

“He says a lot but does nothing,” Johnston said of her opponent. “The legislation he has put forth has been nonsense….it is all performative.”

Johnston said if she makes it to Washington she wants to focus on issues like immigration, the national deficit, and addressing the needs of Middle Tennessee communities.

A major part of Ogles’ campaign messaging has focused on his previous endorsement from Trump, but Johnston says she could also get support from the top of the Republican ticket.

“I would put good money that if I ever met Trump, he would endorse me in a second. But I think this election is not about Trump it’s about Tennessee,” she said.

Ogles did not respond to repeated requests to be interviewed for this story.

UNIVERSAL VOUCHER OPPONENTS FACE CHALLENGERS

This cycle, some state Republican incumbents are facing fierce and well-funded primary challengers.

Considering Tennessee district maps have been drawn in a way that favors Republican candidates in the General Election, the winner of the primary will likely go on to win the seat in November.

The issue at the center of some of the races for the Statehouse is school vouchers.

Earlier this month, the pro-voucher School Freedom Fund announced their plan to launch a $3.6 million campaign in Tennessee to unseat five Republican lawmakers who didn’t support Governor Lee’s universal voucher legislation.

Despite a GOP supermajority in the Statehouse, Lee hasn’t been able to get this part of his agenda over the finish line.

Vanderbilt Political Science professor John Geer said the millions being thrown into these traditionally low-turnout races can be a double-edged sword for the governor.

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“The outcome will be very interesting because if indeed these state senators survive, that will be a blow to Lee’s efforts here,” Geer said. “[ Lee ] has put a lot on the line and you have to give him credit because he has worked every angle and that is what he should be doing. If it doesn’t work that will be a black mark. He has already failed a couple of times on vouchers.”

Lee has previously told reporters he has been taken note of where members of his party stand on the issue.

“I’ve said a lot of times I get engaged in elections, and I get engaged in candidates, and I’ve met with several candidates, some who are in open seats; some who are incumbents,” Gov. Lee said in May . “This year what I’m talking to candidates about is education freedom and choice for parents. I want to know where new candidates stand on that issue because it’s so important to me, so you’ll see me talking to candidates.”

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