The deadline for qualifying for state house and senate races passed with a few interesting surprises, some of which continued AFTER the deadline.
MATLOCK LOCKED IN, CAMPFIELD STEPS ASIDE IN RACE FOR MCNALLY SENATE SEAT. With Lt. Governor Randy McNally announcing his decision to not seek reelection it appeared that two big political fights would occur: One for his Senate seat in Anderson and Knox County and one for the Speakership. The fight for the Speaker post continues to loom, but after a number of candidates expressed interest in McNally seat, the list quickly pared down. Ultimately, former legislators Jimmy Matlock and Stacey Campfield qualified to run as Republicans in the deep red district. But Campfield has now stepped aside in favor of Matlock. Campfield explained that after he met with Matlock and determined that the two shared the same view on virtually every issue he saw no reason to challenge Matlock, who still faces Democrat David Miller in the November general election.
KERRY ROBERTS GETS A PRIMARY PASS. Senator Kerry Roberts was facing a possible GOP challenger in Dickson County Mayor Bob Rials but Rials opted out and Roberts has an almost certain path to reelection.
93rd DISTRICT SEAT IN SHELBY COUNTY IS WIDE OPEN. After Democrat Rep. G. A. Hardaway, Sr.’s qualifying petition came up one signature short, there is currently no candidate qualified for the ballot for the Memphis seat he currently occupies.
Hardaway says he is still running and will pursue legal challenges, but if unsuccessful he will run as a write in candidate.
26 of the 99 legislative districts in the state house (excluding Hardaway’s) will have no race in November, as only one candidate qualified in those districts. In those cases candidates not only didn’t have to face a primary, but they face no general election opposition on the ballot.
SEMI-REMATCH FOR REEVES IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. Rep. Lee Reeves won a three person GOP primary in the 65th district two years ago. He narrowly outpaced Brian Beathard by 95 votes (37.55% to 36.41%) with Michelle Forman pulling third place with 26.04%. Despite early speculation that Beathard would seek a rematch following Reeves run for Congress in the special election won by Matt Van Epps, in which Reeves finished way back in the pack, Beathard opted out. Foreman is now seeking the semi-rematch in the hopes that a one-on-one battle improves her chances. Reeves relied heavily on Americans for Prosperity (AFP) doorknockers and a big warchest to pull out a narrow victory in 2024. Will AFP play again in August?
CADE BACK IN THE GAME. Former House Speaker Glen Casada’s Chief of Staff, Cade Cothren is officially seeking a comeback! Cothren qualified for the GOP primary in the 71st district that includes Wayne County and parts of Lawrence, Hardin, and Maury counties. He is facing Republican incumbent Kip Capley.
Cothren resigned from his role at the Capitol in 2019 amid a series of scandals and was later tried and convicted in a jury trial in federal court on public corruption charges. Although he was sentenced to several years in prison he and Casada were both pardoned by President Donald Trump before reporting to prison.
Cothren’s announcement made it clear that political payback is an important part of his political ambition. And Cade is unabashedly seeking to draw the MAGA Trump voters to his side. Definitely a race to watch!
Steve Gill is editor and Publisher of TriStar Daily.
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