Senate Education Chair John Lundberg’s defeat draws eyebrow raising comments from former President Trump

Jon Lundberg and a tweet from former President Donald Trump (Photo of Lundberg by the Tennessee General Assembly)

Four incumbents lost their seats in Thursday’s state primary, but none received more attention than Senate Education Committee Chair John Lundberg, R-Bristol.

Bobby Harshbarger, son of U.S. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, won the GOP primary with nearly 52 percent of the vote to oust Lundberg from the Senate district 4 seat he’d held since 2016. The race had been mired in controversy almost from the beginning and that continued on election night.

Bobby Harshbarger (Photo by Bobby Harshbarger's campaign)

The State Attorney General is currently investigating whether Harshbarger broke the law to attack Lundberg with text messages and this week Harshbarger’s father faced criminal charges for allegedly stealing campaign signs. Perhaps the key moment though, came last month when former President Donald Trump decided to endorse Harshbarger.

Trump took to social media to congratulate Harshbarger following the vote and take a swipe at Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who supported Lundberg.

“Congratulations to Bobby Harshbarger, a fantastic candidate for Tennessee State Senate, who won against a long-term incumbent supported by RINO Governor Bill Lee, whose endorsement meant nothing,” wrote Trump.

Lee has been a vocal supporter of the former President but chose not to officially back him during the primary while serving as the Chair of the Republican Governor’s Association. Lee instead said he would back whoever the eventual GOP nominee would be according to news reports from Politico.

Foundational education policies played a key role in other races

Serving as the chair of the Senate Education Committee, Lundberg developed a reputation for supporting foundational education policies, including high academic standards and accountability that studies show have led to student improvement in Tennessee.

These policies faced challenges during the most recent legislative session and ultimately played a key role in other races across the state.

Former Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough ran on protecting academic standards and accountability and those positions helped him topple Representative John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, in the House district 33 GOP primary with 52 percent of the vote.

“Mollie and I humbly want to say THANK YOU to our supporters for the confidence you have shown! We have to regroup and focus on the general election in November,” wrote Scarbrough on his Facebook page. “A special thank you to State Representative John Ragan for his gracious call last night to offer his support in the general election, thank you sir!”

House incumbents Chris Todd, R-Madison County, Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, and Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, also ran on their support for foundational education policies and cruised to victory in GOP primaries.

In the Senate, protecting high-standards and accountability paved the way for Jessie Seal’s victory over incumbent Senator Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, in the Senate district 8 GOP primary and Senator Ferrell Haile’s, R-Gallatin, primary victory over challenger Chris Spencer in the Senate district 18 GOP primary.

Each of these candidates received support in the primary from education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success and its Team Kid PAC. President and CEO Lana Skelo says the vote sends a clear message to lawmakers.

"Tonight's results drive home the value voters place on education and preserving the high academic standards and accountability Tennessee's last three governors worked hard to create," said Skelo. “Tennesseans do not want our state to return to a second-rate education system and the candidates who won tonight reflect that. The message is clear for the Tennessee General Assembly that convenes next year, build upon and protect the high academic standards that have put our state on the path to success."

The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.

Mixed bag for vouchers

Governor Lee announcing his Education Freedom Scholarship plan last year (Photo by Sky Arnold)

Going into the primary, Governor Lee made his plan to allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private schools, sometimes referred to as vouchers, a major issue by endorsing multiple candidates who support it.

The issue has divided opinions statewide, with opponents arguing vouchers divert funds away from public schools and supporters making the case vouchers provide a school choice option for economically disadvantaged families. Vouchers were not decisive in Senator Lundberg’s race as Bobby Harshbarger won despite saying he opposes the Governor’s plan. The Governor did go two for three on open House seat primaries where he made endorsements to voucher supporting candidates.

Attorney Lee Reeves came out on top of a three candidate field in the House district 65 GOP primary with more than 37 percent of the vote, while Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board member Aron Maberry won the House district 68 GOP primary with 43 percent.Governor Lee’s endorsement of Air Force Captain Jason Emert in House district 20 was not decisive, as Emert came in third in the GOP primary won by Blount County Commissioner Tom Stinnett.

Governor Lee also endorsed Representative Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, in the House district 27 GOP Primary. Hazlewood was the fourth incumbent to lose Thursday night as challenger Michele Reneau beat her with just over 50 percent of the vote.

Multiple other incumbents receiving the Governor’s endorsement won, including Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, who overcame a strong challenge from Maury County Commissioner Ray Jeter to win the House district 64 GOP primary.

The Governor posted his reaction to the election on social media, saying the results show voters support universal school choice.

“Tonight, voters sent a clear message: It’s time to deliver school choice for Tennessee families, strengthen public safety, & keep our economy strong. I look forward to working with the 114th General Assembly to ensure Tennessee remains a beacon of opportunity, security & freedom,” wrote Lee.