Few issues have united Tennessee Democrats more this year their opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let families across the state use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school.
Democrats universally opposed the Education Freedom Scholarship plan during the legislative session and Democratic candidates are campaigning against universal school choice in the August primary.
That opposition now has company in East Tennessee from across the aisle.
During an interview with conservative YouTube channel and podcaster the Tennessee Informer earlier this month, GOP Senate District 4 challenger Bobby Harshbarger said he doesn’t understand why Governor Lee wants to expand universal school choice statewide. The existing Education Savings Account pilot program only allows families in Davidson, Shelby, and Hamilton County to use public dollars for private school.
In the interview, Harshbarger expressed reservations about supporting the Governor’s plan after talking to those who oppose it.
“I’ve spoken with parents, I’ve spoken with teachers, I’ve spoken with administrators, I’ve spoken with board of education members, I’ve spoken with folks in home school, I’ve spoken with people in private school and the gist that I get for them in this particular area is they don’t see the need yet,” said Harshbarger. “You’re put there to represent the people in your district, bottom line.”
That position is a major contrast to his opponent in the August GOP primary for the East Tennessee District. Incumbent Senator Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, sponsored the Senate’s version of the Education Freedom Scholarship plan and steered it through the Senate Education Committee he chairs. Lundberg says he’s been surprised to hear his opponent’s stance on the issue.
“I’ve heard from literally a half dozen people who’ve been in smaller group meetings with him where he really trashes school choice, which I’m shocked and surprised at,” said Lundberg.
Governor Lee has made universal school choice a priority during the August state primary, endorsing multiple Republicans who support the plan in open House seats and providing endorsements to incumbents like Senator Lundberg who supported it this year.
“It’s an important issue, I mean education affects everything, everything we do,” said Lundberg. “I think we have some great public schools, but I also think parents are the best decision makers of where their students, their kids, are going to succeed and what environment and what school will have, whether it’s the values, the teachers, the administration, whatever, they should have that input not the government mandated you’ve gotta go here.”
School choice hasn’t been the only issue separating Harshbarger and Lundberg in the GOP primary.
A political action committee with connections to Harshbarger’s mother, U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger, R- Kingsport, has sent out misleading text messages to voters attacking Lundberg.
The Tennessee Attorney General is currently investigating whether Harshbarger may have violated campaign laws and collaborated with the PAC to send the mailers.
