Senate district 4 challenger Bobby Harshbarger prominently lists supporting “anti-woke education” as one of his campaign priorities. He’s also been outspoken about his opposition to allowing pride flags in Tennessee classrooms and providing undocumented immigrants with in-state tuition.¶
With conservative social issues so vividly in the forefront of the East Tennessee Republican’s campaign, it’s perhaps a bit surprising the fifth largest campaign donation he received this quarter came from the recently retired president of one of the country’s largest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).¶
Former Tennessee State University (TSU) President Dr. Glenda Glover donated $1,729.08 to Harshbarger’s campaign according to state records. Glover’s other contributions this quarter are all to progressive Democrats and her social media page displays pictures with both President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamal Harris.¶
Harshbarger has sided with Democrats on universal school choice but he’s otherwise run a conservative campaign and is a supporter of former President Donald Trump.Efforts to reach Glover for questions why she provided a donation to Harshbarger’s campaign and whether it might relate to the General Assembly’s to vacate TSU’s board of trustees earlier this year were unsuccessful. Harshbarger’s opponent in the Senate district 4 GOP primary, Senator Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, chairs the Senate Education Committee that voted on the legislation.
