While national issues like abortion and COVID restrictions dominated discussions leading up to the August 4 State and Federal Primary, the local issue of school choice may have played a bigger role than any.
Seven candidates who garnered support from school choice supporters won Republican primaries in open House and Senate seats while two notable school choice opponents lost. Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Bob Ramsey both faced defeat in their Republican primaries by school choice supporting candidates.
Weaver drew the ire of school choice supporters when she voted against the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act last session. That opposition played an important role in the House District 40 Republican primary that Weaver lost to Michael Hale.
“Folks, today is a new day, yesterday and the past few months are behind us,” said Hale. Our world and this country have enough divisions, now I ask the people of this district to be a united people, to lay aside our differences and work to accomplish the best we can for our communities.”
Hale will be favored to win the Republican-leaning district in the general election against Democrat Tom Cook.
In the House District 20 Republican primary, 14-year incumbent Representative Bob Ramsey lost to Bryan Richey. Ramsey has shown opposition to charter school issues and that played a key role in the campaign along with the Representative’s prior votes for the gas tax hike.
“I am humbled that you asked me to go to Nashville to serve our great community,” said Richey. “Blount County had a great day today and our voice is going to Nashville again.”
No Democrat filed to run in the district’s general election.
School Choice Played a Role Statewide
Across the state, school choice played a key role in Republican primary wins by Elaine Davis (HD18), William Slater (HD35), Gino Bulso (HD61), Jake McCalmon (HD63), Jody Barrett (HD69), Brock Martin (HD79), and Adam Lowe (SD1).
Additionally, support for school choice was an important component in two incumbent wins. Senator London Lamar won her Democratic primary comfortably in Senate District 33 while Senator Jack Johnson pulled out a close win in the Senate District 27 Republican primary.
Senator Lamar will be heavily favored over Republican Frederick Tappan in the general election and no Democrat qualified to run against Senator Johnson.
School choice opponents didn’t fare as well.
The Tennessee Education Association has been an opponent of charter schools and school choice in general. According to campaign finance reports, it supported candidates in 10 republican primaries but only won one race.
“Tonight’s results illustrate that voters across this state want effective education for all students,” said Adam Lister, President and CEO of education organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS). “Candidates won these primaries because they communicated to voters their belief that Tennessee public school students deserve better outcomes, and that accountability supports success. Each candidate embraced an effort to defend and expand quality education options for students, parents, and caregivers. Coming off of a historic 112th Assembly that secured a student-focused overhaul of the funding formula, teacher raises, student supports, and targeted interventions to improve literacy, the Tennessee General Assembly that convenes next year will be even more focused on improving public education and ensuring every student has the best opportunity to succeed.”
The Tennessee Firefly is funded in part by Tennesseans for Student Success.
TSS’s Team Kid PAC engaged in 12 primary races to support school choice candidates. Eleven of those candidates won including Hale and Richey.
