HEMMER EXITING THE STATE HOUSE; REPUBLICAN HANCOCK SEEKING THE SEAT
Democrat Caleb Hemmer’s surprise announcement that he will not seek reelection to the Nashville state house seat he has held since 2022 may give Republicans a chance to get a foothold in Davidson county. Hemmer ran unopposed for reelection last year.
 He was first elected in 2022 when he narrowly defeated Republican Michelle Foreman by about 1,500 votes.

Since Hemmer’s announcement on Monday, two candidates have already said they are running next year: retired Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Mark Proctor, a Democrat, and Republican businessman Bill Hancock. Proctor is likely to face several other Democrat primary opponents, with at least one or more from the progressive Aftyn Behn wing of the party. Hancock has been actively gearing up for a race against Hemmer for several months, with former GOP state chair Bob Davis consulting with his campaign.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR KERRY ROBERTS FACING FORECLOSURE IN SPRINGFIELD
The historic Beeches/John Woodard House in Robertson County is reportedly the subject of a court-ordered foreclosure. The home is currently owned by State Sen. Kerry Roberts and his wife and has been being operated as a wedding and events venue until recently.

According to the Tennessee Journal, Roberts is facing eviction from the historic home. 
He has been waging a court battle to try to keep the home in Robertson County after Apex Bank, which loaned him $4.5 million to develop a wedding venue, foreclosed on the property. Roberts is claiming the bank engaged in fraud as part of the loan process. There are reports that Roberts has also borrowed or tried to borrow money from past and present state officials in the last several years.

Roberts recently announced his campaign for reelection in 2026. State Rep. Jody Barrett, who recently ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the special election for the seventh district, has been considering a campaign against Roberts in the August 2026 Republican primary. Roberts’ financial woes likely increase the odds of Barrett running.

REALITY SHOW STAR RUNNING FOR OFFICE? BUT FOR WHAT?
Influencer and reality TV star Savannah Chrisley says she is running for office, but hasn’t said for what. She recently told People she is losing weight to get “skinny”. 
3 That is a step a lot of candidates take before they make the leap into the political arena.

Savannah Chrisley’s parents are Todd and Julie Chrisley, who became famous through the reality show Chrisley Knows Best. They were convicted of tax evasion and fraud and served time in federal prison, though Savannah’s parents received pardons from President Trump earlier this year. After some time apart, they have reunited again. 

Savannah, age 28, has visibility and appears to have an interest in running. But just like you can’t beat “Somebody with nobody,” you can’t win a race until you decide what you’re running for.