Tennessee conducted its 2024 primaries elections on August 1, 2024. The results of those elections are a mixed set of results for Second Amendment advocates. Since Tennessee Firearms Association’s legislative advocacy efforts are focused on Tennessee, we will focus these comments on Tennessee’s legislative races.
One result of this election is that the large majority of the composition of the Tennessee Legislature did not change. Many incumbent Legislators had no challengers and will be back on the general election ballots in circumstances where they are likely to prevail. Generally, the absence of a challenger to an incumbent or, in some instances, an adequately funded or supported challenger is not good for Tennessee. This is something that requires review as conservatives turn their attention toward the 2026 election cycle.
Notable contested primaries for Tennessee Senate districts included:
- Republican Primary, District 2: Tom Hatcher (12,265) prevailed over Bryan Richey (3,239) and John Pullias (1,345)
- Republican Primary, District 4: Bobby Harshbarger (11,540) defeated incumbent Jon Lundberg (10,668). Jon Lundberg has served as a member of the Senate Judiciary and his loss will likely mean a new appointment to that committee.
- Republican Primary, District 6: incumbent Becky Duncan Massey (10,085) prevailed over Monica Irvine (6,792)
- Republican Primary, District 8: Jessie Seal (10,200) defeated incumbent Frank Niceley (8,132)
- Republican Primary, District 10: incumbent Todd Gardenhire (8,765) defeated Edward LeCompte (2,075). Sen. Gardenhire has been serving as the chair of Senate Judiciary and is likely to be reappointed to that position.
- Republican Primary, District 12: incumbent Ken Yager (15,654) defeated Teena Hedrick (4,587)
- Republican Primary, District 18: incumbent Ferrell Haile (9,684) defeated Chris Spencer (6,683)
- Republican Primary, District 24: incumbent John Stevens (12, 486) defeated Charles Cooper (4,155). Sen. Stevens has been serving on Senate Judiciary and is likely to be reappointed to that committee.
- Democratic Primary, District 30, incumbent Sara Kyle (6,764) defeated Erika Pearson (3,156). Sen. Kyle has been serving on Senate Judiciary and is likely to be reappointed to that committee.
With all 99 House Districts up this year but with many of those having no contested primaries, there are still a few contested primaries to note:
- Republican Primary, District 27: Michele Reneau (4,079) defeated incumbent Patsy Hazlewood (3,942)
- Republican Primary, District 33: Rick Scarbrough (2,963) defeated incumbent John Ragan (2,705)
- Republican Primary, District 69: incumbent Jody Barrett (3,672) defeated Ronny George (745)
- Republican Primary, District 73: incumbent Chris Todd (5,130) defeated Jimmy Harris (2,461)
- Republican Primary, District 77: incumbent Rusty Grills (4,169) defeated James Cobb (1,660)
- Republican Primary, District 78: incumbent Mary Littleton (3,152) defeated Justin Spurlock (1,028)
Of these races, one of particular note is the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Ferrell Haile and challenger Chris Spencer. Some reports indicate that Sen. Haile’s race benefited from between $1 million and perhaps $1.5 million in campaign contributions or independent expenditures. If so, this is perhaps a record in the amount of money spent by or to support an incumbent state senator in a primary. That might also infer that Sen. Haile’s campaign or his supporters were concerned that he might lose this re-election bid without massive expenditures involving advertising on television, cable, media and mailers. It does raise the question of whether certain races are won on the merits or are merely being “bought.” Whatever the cause, Sen. Haile prevailed with about 60% of the vote from 16,367 voters in a district of over 210,000 constituents. Then again, it also raises the question of did Republican legislative leadership and their “friendly” political action committees spend similar amounts of money on incumbents Frank Niceley, Jon Lundburg, Patsy Hazelwood and John Ragan?
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