Vouchers proved a big battleground in Thursday's Tennessee election: Key takeaways

Though vouchers weren't explicitly on the ballot on Thursday, the primary was a battleground for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who uncharacteristically waded into contested Republican primaries across the state to back school choice candidates.

Lee sought to bolster his allies ahead of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly, which begins in January. He also meant to send a message to incumbents in the legislature who weren't facing down a competitive race but will have to consider Lee's voucher plan next year.

Lee can chalk up some notable wins, particularly in the competitive open seat in House District 65 in Williamson County. But he also lost his Senate Education Committee chair and one of three House races he weighed in on. Vote margins in other races indicated there wasn't necessarily an overwhelming voter mandate for school vouchers.

Though Lee is likely to spin it as a victory for school choice, it appears lukewarm at best considering the millions of dollars that school choice groups poured into the state over the summer.

Lee Reeves eked out a very narrow victory in the GOP primary in House District 65, beating Brian Beatherd in a heated contest by less than 1 percentage point, according to unofficial results Thursday night. Reeves boasted an endorsement from Lee, while outgoing Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, had backed Beatherd, a voucher skeptic.

Elsewhere, pro-voucher money helped push incumbent Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, off the map, in addition to Rep. Bryan Richey, who fell to Tom Hatcher in the open race to replace retiring Sen. Art Swann, R-Maryville.

But voters in Senate District 4 issued a stinging defeat for Lee and establishment Republican leadership in the Senate, toppling powerful Senate Education Chair Jon Lundberg, a conservative stalwart whose opponent, Kingsport pharmacist Bobby Harshbarger, painted as too liberal.

Lundberg, R-Bristol, was also a close ally of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and his ouster could come into play during Senate leadership elections early next year.

Harshbarger opposes vouchers and touted the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who took an unexpected swing at Lee's conservative bona fides after the election while boasting of his endorsement successes in Tennessee.

Here are other key takeaways from Thursday's election.

Outside voucher money rendered few dramatic results

A handful of pro-voucher political action committees poured millions into key races in an effort to elect candidates who will support state-funded private school vouchers. The money eked out some victories, but did not result in widespread dramatic success.

Groups like the Club For Growth-affiliated School Freedom Fund, Tennessee Federation for Children, and Americans for Prosperity Action, and others spent more than $4 million supporting pro-voucher candidates and attacking opponents in Thursday’s primary.

But a handful of big-voucher-backed candidates lost, and others barely squeaked over the finish line.

In House District 20, Lee-endorsed Jason Emert was backed heavily by the School Freedom Fund, who bought more than $554,000 in ads boosting him in the final weeks of the race. Emert came in third in the close three-way primary, losing by 222 votes. Tom Stinnett won the race.

Longtime incumbent Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, who was backed by Tennessee Federation for Children and AFP Action, was unseated by challenger Rick Scarbrough in House District 33.

Lundberg, a fierce advocate for school choice, was supported by nearly $200,000 in outside spending from pro-voucher groups, but lost to Harshbarger.

Several PAC-backed pro-voucher candidates did win — but in nail-biting triumphs, not a decisive trouncing.

In one of the most expensive state House races of the night, House District 65, Reeves — who had the governor’s endorsement and nearly $1 million in spending from outside groups to boost his bid — won by just 95 votes.

Likewise, Lee-endorsed Aaron Maberry — who was boosted with nearly $800,000 from outside pro-voucher groups — won by about 350 votes.

Still, there were some decisive victories: newcomer Jessie Seal unseated Niceley in Senate District 8, boosted by $563,000 in ad buys from School Freedom Fund, and Hatcher roared past Richey in the open primary in Senate District 2, boosted by another $524,000 from the group.

AFP-coordinated ground game wins the day for Ogles despite being outspent

Incumbent MAGA darling U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, quashed a well-funded primary challenge from more moderate Metro Council member Courtney Johnston , despite being outspent in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.

Ogles won 56.5% of the vote to Johnston’s 43.5%, with Johnston ultimately carrying only one county — the Davidson County portion of the district, as former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell did in 2022.

Johnston’s lead in her home county Davidson was significant — 15.6 percentage points — but support there was not strong enough to overcome Ogles’ dominance in rural counties that are his base. Johnston didn't crack 60% of the vote in Davidson County, a figure Ogles topped in four of the six counties covered by the newly drawn 5th.

The former Maury County mayor trounced Johnston in rural districts where she is less known, beating her by nearly 54 percentage points in Lewis County, 29 percentage points in Maury County, 28 percentage points in Marshall County, and 25 percentage points in Wilson County.

Williamson County was closer, but Ogles still ended the night with a double-digit lead, defeating Johnson 58.4% to 41.6%.

Outside funding in the race topped $1 million before Thursday. Johnston out-fundraised Ogles significantly during the campaign, and also drew support from the well-funded PAC Conservatives with Character.

Ogles’ success was not impacted by lackluster fundraising to his campaign account: outside PACs spent significantly to boost his efforts, and his longtime ally, Americans for Prosperity Action, openly coordinated door knocking efforts.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vouchers proved a big battleground in Thursday's Tennessee election: Key takeaways