Tennessee Voter Guide: The key competitive races in the Aug. 1 election

Tennessee holds its state and federal primaries on Aug. 1, in addition to a series of county and municipal general elections across the Volunteer State.

The only statewide race on the ballot this year is a battle for the U.S. Senate, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, is seeking a second six-year term. Meanwhile, all nine U.S. House seats are up for election this year and all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Only the even-numbered state Senate seats are up for grabs in 2024.

U.S. Senate

Border security, abortion, and the economy are key issues as Tennesseans head to the polls to decide who will represent the Volunteer State in the U.S. Senate for the next six years. Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is seeking a second term, while the Democratic primary could prove a key early test for a member of the Tennessee Three, the group of state lawmakers that faced ouster votes in 2023.

Learn more about the U.S. Senate candidates.

U.S. House

Tennessee U.S. House races in the Aug. 1 primary include some notable races to watch.

All eyes will likely fall on the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, the first reelection campaign for U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia. Ogles faces a serious contender in Courtney Johnston, a Metro Nashville council member with a well-funded campaign.

Still, it's often an uphill battle to unseat incumbents in the congressional delegation. U.S. House Districts 2, 3 and 7 feature unopposed candidates in the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Learn more about the candidates in competitive U.S House primaries.

Tennessee state Senate

School vouchers. Gun control. Third-grade reading. All are top issues before Tennessee voters head to the polls on Aug. 1 to cast ballots in primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the state legislature.

In the state Senate, half of the 33 seats are up for a vote this year. In 2024, even-numbered districts face election for four-year terms and there are competitive Republican or Democratic primaries in nine districts. Independents will appear on the ballot in November. Here's what you need to know about the competitive primaries on the Aug. 1 ballot.

Learn more about the candidates in competitive state Senate primaries.

Tennessee state House

Voters across Tennessee will have a chance to vote in all 99 Tennessee House of Representative districts this year, as all seats are up for a vote in 2024. But candidates in dozens of those races do not face primary opposition. Infrastructure concerns, Second Amendment issues, health care access and the conflict between pro-voucher and public education advocates are major priorities this election cycle, according to the candidates vying for a seat at the Tennessee Capitol.

Learn more about the candidates in competitive primaries in the Middle Tennessee area.

Davidson County

Five Metro Nashville Public Schools board seats are up for grabs this year, with all but two candidates running unopposed. Those are among the most high-profile Davidson County general election races on the ballot this year. Issues in the school board races include the state's push for an expanded school voucher program, arming teachers and the controversial third-grade retention.

Learn more about those running for school board in Nashville.

Williamson County

There are six contested school board races on the ballot in the upcoming general election, scheduled for Aug. 1.

Learn more about the Williamson County candidates.

Wilson County

Two school board seats and the county assessor of property are all contested races in the upcoming general election, scheduled for Aug. 1.

Learn more about the Wilson County candidates.

Sumner County

Meanwhile, two county school board seats are being contested this election cycle, and depending on who wins each race, it could mean big changes for the district and its policies.

Learn more about the Sumner County candidates.

Robertson County

Two seats are contested during this election cycle, one on the county's school board and one on Greenbrier's Board of Alderman.

Learn more about the Robertson County candidates.

Cheatham County

Alderman, City Council member and mayor of the Town of Ashland City are all contested races in the Cheatham County general election scheduled on Aug. 1.

Learn more about the Cheatham County candidates.

Dickson County

Voters have only one contested race on the Aug. 1 local general election ballot, a seat on the Dickson County school board.

See who is running for the Dickson County school board.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voter Guide: The key competitive races in the Aug. 1 election