Tennessee House District 92 includes Marshall County and the southern part of Williamson County in Middle Tennessee.¶
Representative Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, has held the seat since 2020, but this year he’s opted to run for both his existing House seat and Tennessee’s recently redrawn 9th Congressional District. Warner’s decision to run for two offices at the same time, along with his involvement in a quarry lake project that some Lewisburg residents argue is polluting drinking water, has drawn criticism, and he’s now facing a strong challenge in next month’s GOP primary from Marshall County Commissioner Vincent Cuevas.¶
As part of an ongoing series, the Tennessee Firefly reached out to both candidates with questions about key education issues the General Assembly will grapple with next year. Only Cuevas responded to the questionnaire, but Firefly staff have included Warner’s statements on these issues when possible.¶
Standing Against Trump
Representative Warner frequently posts about his support for President Donald Trump and even wore a Trump flag to the special redistricting session in May, but he’s been an outspoken opponent of one of the president’s key education priorities. The 2024 GOP platform that Trump ran on included support for allowing families to use tax dollars for private school expenses, and as a continuation of that, he publicly supported Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program.¶
Warner was one of the few Republicans to vote against the Education Freedom Scholarship program last year, which allows families to use taxpayer dollars for private school expenses. He followed that up by voting against expanding the program this year.¶
Warner explained his opposition to the program in a social media post that included some of the same complaints that unions like the Tennessee Education Association have made.¶
“Over 80 percent of the money is going to kids already in private school,” Warner wrote. “I want every kid to have a great education. But this voucher money going to families already in private school doesn’t fix one single public school classroom or help the children in need.”¶
Support for School Choice Expansion
Cuevas, by contrast, told the Tennessee Firefly that while he does have some questions about funding, he’s supportive of the Education Freedom Scholarship program.¶
“I would like to see it expanded, but I would also like to revisit the funding of this program,” Cuevas said.¶
How Would You Improve Education Outcomes
Firefly staff also asked each candidate how they would improve student outcomes in Tennessee.¶
Warner lists empowering “teachers, parents, and students” as a priority on his website, though he doesn’t provide any specifics about the changes he’d support. Cuevas told the Firefly that he would focus on improving teaching and school choice if elected.¶
“I would like to see less focus on testing and more focus on teaching. Additionally, I would like to see more school choice opportunities and to revisit where that funding is coming from,” Cuevas said.¶
Expanding Public Charter Schools
House District 92 does not currently have a public charter school, though Williamson County Schools did deny one application in 2022. Charters are free public schools run by a non-profit under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
Cuevas told the Firefly that he’s supportive of expanding this type of school.¶
“I believe this is a viable option for more school choice options,” Cuevas said.¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any direct comments that Warner has made about charter schools, but he did join House Democrats in a failed attempt to make it harder for these schools to access vacant school properties. Acquiring adequate facilities is a major challenge for these schools.¶
Reducing Barriers to Open Enrollment
This year, lawmakers came close to passing legislation that would make it easier for families to enroll their children in school districts outside of the one they’re zoned for, sometimes called open enrollment.¶
Cuevas told the Firefly that he would support this issue if elected.¶
“Yes, this is another option for school choice,” Cuevas said.¶
Warner was not a member of the House committee that voted on the open enrollment legislation this year, and Firefly staff were unable to find any statements he’s made on the issue.¶
The winner of the House District 92 GOP primary will face Democrat Teri Mai in November.¶
