Tennessee election leaves uncertain path for school voucher expansion

There were mixed signals for school voucher supporters during last week's election.

Why it matters: The primaries set the parameters for the next legislative session, when Gov. Bill Lee and his allies want to revive a universal voucher proposal. The governor endorsed in multiple Republican primary races, hoping to grow support for the measure.

• But results were uneven, and they came along with a jab from former President Trump.

Flashback: Lee's push for statewide vouchers , which allow families to pay private school tuition with taxpayer dollars, imploded earlier this year after the House and Senate couldn't agree on an approach.

State of play: Pro-voucher groups poured money into statehouse primaries, hoping to change that dynamic. Two of the three pro-voucher House candidates Lee endorsed won their primaries.

• Pro-voucher candidates beat incumbent Sen. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) as well as Rep. Bryan Richey (R-Maryville), who ran for an open Senate seat.

Yes, but: The Trump-backed anti-voucher candidate Bobby Harshbarger, whose mother is in Congress, toppled state Senate education chair Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), the powerful senator who sponsored Lee's voucher legislation.

• In a social media post , Trump celebrated Harshbarger's victory "against a strong, long-term incumbent supported by RINO Governor Bill Lee," referring to Lee as a Republican in name only.

Between the lines: As the Tennessean noted , the margins for many pro-voucher candidates were far from decisive.

• But Lee and advocacy groups touted the victories.

What they're saying: "As Gov. Lee has said before, President Trump certainly has a right to weigh in on races," Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson said in a statement.

• "The Governor is proud that candidates who believe in school choice won primaries across the state."
• "Together, we will empower Tennessee parents to choose the best education for their child, and that's what he is focused on."