Her campaign has been fueled by the momentum she gained after narrowly surviving an expulsion effort by Tennessee’s Republican House supermajority in 2023. The expulsion attempt came after she joined two Democratic colleagues in a gun control protest following the tragic Covenant School shooting.
Vice President Kamala Harris hugs Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, before speaking at Fisk University on Friday, April 7, 2023. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives the day before. Johnson survived an effort to expel her. Andrew Nelles, The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK
“This is doable, folks,” Johnson said. “In 2018, Marsha Blackburn won by 200,000 votes. We know there are 300,000 Democratic voters who haven’t voted in the last few cycles. We get those folks to the polls, we win this race.”
Johnson’s campaign has raised over $5 million thus far, with over $2 million on hand. She believes that with sufficient funding, Tennessee’s relatively inexpensive media markets could help flip the Senate seat.
Despite the enthusiasm, the challenge remains steep. No Democrat has won a statewide race in Tennessee since 2006. Johnson is counting on the political energy from the “Tennessee Three” incident to drive an unprecedented Democratic turnout.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Jasper Colt, USA TODAY
Bradshaw is drawing on her experience from her 2020 Senate campaign. In 2020, Bradshaw made history as the first African American woman to win a major political party nomination in Tennessee’s statewide races and currently serves as the executive director of Sowing Justice, an environmental and political organization.
Meanwhile, Civil Miller-Watkins is a middle-school teacher who currently serves as secretary of the TN Democratic County Chairs Association. She has strong ties with the NAACP and previously served as chair of the Fayette County Democratic Party.
MAGA darling Andy Ogles looks to retain U.S. House seat
In Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, Trump-endorsed Andy Ogles faces a primary challenge from Nashville Metro Council member Courtney Johnston , who is viewed as more moderate.
With $500,000 in cash on hand, Johnston has outpaced Ogles, who reported only $95,000 earlier this month. “We’re taking nothing for granted,” Ogles told Punchbowl News. “We’re being outspent, but we’re working harder. We’ve got the grassroots and our polling looks good. You never take your foot off the gas.”
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) casts his vote during the twelfth round of voting for Speaker of the House. The House of Representatives reconvenes on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, trying to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins. Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives with a slim majority, and Democrats maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Despite Ogles’ optimism, concerns among his allies are growing. The far-right Freedom Caucus is reeling from Chair Rep. Bob Good’s exceedingly slender loss in the June primary - less than 400 votes. Virginia’s 5th Congressional District is still amid a recount , but if Good falls short, he would become the first House Freedom Caucus chairman to lose reelection.
Ogles, who aims to chair the caucus, has faced scrutiny over his campaign finances and alleged resume embellishments. Reports indicate Ogles had to correct his FEC filings to reflect a $20,000 loan to his campaign, not the previously reported $320,000. Additionally, local news has raised questions about discrepancies in his educational and business credentials.
Johnston has capitalized on these controversies, portraying herself as a champion of good governance and contrasting her candidacy with Ogles’ purported headline-chasing.
Ogles has introduced numerous bills throughout his congressional tenure, though none have passed the committee. More recently, he introduced a measure to impeach Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
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