Election 2020
Tennessee’s voter registration numbers for midterm show little to no uptick
Interviews with Tennessee election administrators show that people are registering to vote at roughly the same pace or slightly lower levels than previous years, a hint that voter turnout in this year’s midterm elections will be low. And there’s little sign that the June 24 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Roe […]
Moderate and ultra-conservative face off in 59th District House race
The race to fill the new 59th District House seat in southern Davidson County pits self-styled moderate Democrat Caleb Hemmer against ultra-conservative Republican Michelle Foreman. If Foreman were to win the Nov. 8 election, she would be the only Republican House member in the Davidson County delegation. Hemmer, who works in corporate development for American […]
U.S. House members warned about disinformation in upcoming campaigns
WASHINGTON — Experts on election security warned lawmakers during a U.S. House Administration hearing on Wednesday of targeted disinformation campaigns that could occur in the upcoming midterm and presidential elections. The panel of witnesses also stressed to members of the subcommittee on elections the dangers of conspiracy groups and their reach in sowing disinformation about […]
Shelby County Commission defers funding bump to election commission
The Shelby County Commission deferred a motion to increase the county Election Commission’s budget despite an upcoming deadline to alert voters of precinct changes. Commissioner Tami Sawyer referred to recent controversial changes to voting in Memphis. Republican-controlled committees approved the state’s legislative and congressional maps despite testimony that Black voters were being disenfranchised in key […]
Federal prosecutors file seditious conspiracy charges against Oath Keepers in Jan. 6 attack
WASHINGTON — Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, was charged with seditious conspiracy in organizing an attack on the U.S. Capitol and disrupting the Electoral College certification of the president, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix is charged along with Rhodes in connection with events […]
House panel to consider congressional redistricting plan — yet undone
A Republican-controlled House committee is set to approve a congressional redistricting plan next week, though the proposal is not complete. Democrats are concerned the map will split Davidson County in an effort to put more Republicans in Congress. The current 5th Congressional District contains all of Davidson and Dickson counties and part of Cheatham County. […]
Dixie: Special legislative session should assess West Tennessee infrastructure
Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, spoke with a civil-rights group Monday morning about what to expect at Gov. Bill Lee’s special session discussing the Ford Motor Company manufacturing campus headed to West Tennessee. The Urban League of Middle Tennessee, a non-partisan civil-rights group, asked Dixie, D-Nashville, about his goals to use the deal in an effort […]
Williamson County group clashes with State Election Commission
A group of Williamson County residents skirmished with the State Election Commission Monday, claiming the state’s voting process is full of loopholes that could lead to fraud. Although it failed to show any proof of voter fraud in Tennessee during the 2020 election—which former President Donald Trump still claims was stolen—the group dubbed Williamson County […]
Stockard on the Stump: Welcome to the Green New Deal, Tennessee
Lawmakers across the state are cheering the Blue Oval City plan for the Memphis Regional Megasite, a Ford-SK Innovation project to build electric trucks and batteries that will transform southwest Tennessee. But the $5.6 billion project, which will lead to 5,800 jobs, comes with some teeth grinding and eye rolling as well. In other words, […]
Commentary: Recapture the flag
When I was a kid, the American flag was a big deal in our house. We had a heavy cloth flag that, unlike flags now, wasn’t just a design printed on flimsy fabric. The red and white stripes were sewn together and the stars individually stitched onto the blue background. When it wasn’t hanging from […]
Analysis: Expert assesses motivation behind insurrectionists’ actions
As Joe Biden takes over as President of the United States Wednesday, one expert provides background analysis on why insurrectionists like Eric Munchel, known as “Zip Tie Guy,”may have been inspired to break into the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6. Munchel, of Nashville, was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 10 and charged with one count […]
Cooper: House to seek removal of President Trump
Congressman Jim Cooper predicted Monday the U.S. House will seek to remove President Donald Trump this week for inciting insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, either by invoking the 25th Amendment or impeaching the commander in chief as he leaves office. Cooper, a Nashville Democrat, was set to return to Washington, D.C., Monday where he said […]