Political Musical Chairs - July 2017

 

Anytime there is a statewide elected office up for grabs without an incumbent, there is a scramble of people declaring themselves candidates for the position. This also means there is a resulting musical chairs of candidates running for different positions in which incumbents are running for the statewide or other elected position. Governor Bill Haslam is finishing his second term next year, and with Tennessee governors limited to only serving two terms, there are a handful of candidates declared and rumored to be running to succeed him. Across the state, there is a domino effect of people not running for re-election and are instead running for newly vacant positions. Throw in an appointment to a federal judgeship, and there are certainly a lot of moving pieces to Tennessee’s election landscape. Let’s take a look at the announced candidates and changes, along with the rumor and speculation that has been reported in the media.

 

The field for the Republican nomination is starting to take shape. The announced candidates are state Sen. Mae Beavers, former Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, and businessman Bill Lee. Congresswoman Diane Black has been speculated to join soon. Sen. Mark Green was in the race until his nomination to be Secretary of the Army, and he hasn’t announced to rejoin since he withdrew from consideration for the Secretary of Army position. Sen. Mark Norris was rumored to be considering, but his nomination for a federal judgeship likely keeps him from joining the race. For the Democratic nomination, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has joined, while House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh may join the race soon. 

 

Sen. Bob Corker is up for re-election in 2018. There are no announced Republican candidates running against him, though there have been some media reports of state Rep. Andy Holt and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett are considering running against Sen. Corker for the Republican nomination. There are also some Republicans who are wanting Sen. Mark Green to run. James Mackler has announced his candidacy for the seat as a Democrat.

 

Most of Tennessee’s congressional delegation are expected to run for re-election. With Congresswoman Diane Black possibly running for governor, state Rep. Judd Matheny has already announced to run for her seat whether she runs for the governor’s mansion or not. Several others are rumored for the seat, including Christopher B. Monday, Scottie Nell Hughes, John Rose, state Sen. Mark Green, Rep. William Lamberth, and Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville). Other Tennessee members of Congress have gotten opponents, but none of them are considered major. Congressman DesJarlais’s announced opponents include fellow Republican Jack Maddox and Democrats Mariah Phillips and Steven Reynolds, and Congressman Marsha Blackburn has TN Democrat Justin Kanew as an opponent. There has been speculation Congressman John Duncan may get an opponent in current Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett.

 

With House Speaker Beth Harwell recently announcing her bid for Tennessee Governor, there will be a new speaker that will have to be elected in the 2019 legislation session. Rep. Gerald McCormick has already announced he will seek the post, touting his time as House Republican Leader. Current House Republican Leader says he will determine later if he will run for the post.

 

Sen. Mark Norris is the current state Senate Republican Leader, and should he be confirmed for the federal judgeship there will be a new leader in 2019. Rumored to be considering running for the position include Sen. Jack Johnson and current Senate Commerce Chairman, Sen. Bo Watson and current Senate Finance Chairman, and Sen. Jim Tracy and current Speaker Pro Tempore. Sen. Bill Ketron and current Senate Republican Caucus Chairman has announced he will be running for Rutherford County Mayor, and no senator has been publicly speculated to be considering the position.

Several legislators have already announced they are not running for re-election or would have to give up their seats should they run for another office. Here’s a rundown of some of the announced retirements and some rumored to not be running for re-election:

• Rep. Harry Brooks – Retiring from the legislature.
• Rep. Jimmy Eldridge – Rumored to be running for Mayor for the City of Jackson in 2019.
• Rep. Craig Fitzhugh – Rumored to be running for Governor.
• Rep. Brenda Gilmore – Announced to be running for Sen. Thelma Harper’s seat. 
• Speaker Beth Harwell – Announced she is running for Governor.
• Rep. Andy Holt – Rumored as a possible candidate to run for US Senate against Sen. Bob Corker.
• Rep. Roger Kane – Running for Knox County Clerk.
• Rep. William Lamberth – Rumored he is considering running for Cong. Diane Black’s congressional seat.
• Rep. Judd Matheny – Announced he is running for Cong. Diane Black’s congressional seat. 
• Rep. Mark Pody – Running for Sen. Mae Beavers seat since she is running for Governor.
• Rep. Cameron Sexton – Rumored he is considering running for Cong. Diane Black’s congressional seat.
• Rep. Dawn White – Running for Sen. Bill Ketron’s seat since he will be running for Rutherford County Mayor.
• Rep. Ryan Williams – Rumored he is considering running for Cong. Diane Black’s congressional seat.

 

A few changes are likely to come in the Senate, mostly through senators seeking other offices:

• Sen. Mae Beavers - Announced she is running for Governor. 
• Sen. Thelma Harper – Rumored to possibly not be running for re-election. 
• Sen. Bill Ketron – Running for Rutherford County Mayor.
• Sen. Mark Norris – Nominated for a federal judgeship earlier last week. Should he be confirmed, he won’t be up for re-election and instead his seat would see a new state senator elected to the position.