Lee reports $3.7M cash on hand for gubernatorial race
Press release from Bill Lee campaign
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee announced his campaign for governor has raised nearly $2.3 million for the 2017 reporting period, with over $900,000 in the second half of 2017. In addition to the amount raised, Bill and his wife Maria committed to match campaign donations dollar for dollar, ending the reporting period with over $3.7 million cash on hand.
Republican Governors Association reports record fundraising with Haslam as chair
Press release from Republican Governors Association
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Republican Governors Association announced today $63.2 million raised in all of 2017, including $27.2 million raised in the final six months of the year, setting a new fundraising record that significantly eclipses the $52.5 million raised in 2013, the last comparable year. This fundraising success allows the RGA to strongly support incumbent Republican governors, target key Democrat-held governorships, and elect a new class of Republican governors in 36 gubernatorial elections scheduled to occur less than 10 months from now.
Fleischmann slightly injured in train wreck; Kustoff and Roe aboard but unharmed
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann was slightly injured Wednesday when a train carrying Republican congressmen to an event in West Virginia hit a garbage truck. Two other Tennessee Republican congressmen—Reps. David Kustoff and Phil Roe – were aboard but not injured in the mishap.
Nashville mayor acknowledges extramarital affair
Press release from Nashville mayor’s office
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 31, 2018) – Mayor Megan Barry has released the following statement regarding an extramarital affair:
“Today, I have acknowledged publicly that I have engaged in an extramarital affair with the former head of my security detail.
Medical marijuana advocate running for state House after 100 ‘likes’ on Facebook
David Michel of Telford, a leading advocate for legalization of medical marijuana in the Tri-Cities area, is running as an independent for the state House District 6 seat now held by Rep. Micah Van Huss (R-Gray), according to the Johnson City Press.
Beavers exit came after reporting poor fundraising in run for governor
Former Sen. Mae Beavers suspension of her campaign for governor came after filing a financial disclosure showing she had raised a modest $163,947 in the past six months.
She reported spending $51,931 through Jan. 10 and a cash-on-hand balance of $167,409. In her first gubernatorial campaign disclosure, filed last July, Beavers reported receiving $56,771 — $40,000 of that transferred from her old state Senate campaign account.
Mae Beavers suspends gubernatorial bid
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers is suspending her gubernatorial bid. (Photo credit: Beavers campaign)
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers is dropping out of the governor’s race. The Mt. Juliet Republican announced her decision in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Defense lawyers name new executive director
Press release from Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2018) – The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is proud to announce Denise Lawrence as Executive Director.
Boyd to drop $300,000 on statewide TV buy
Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd speaks during a forum at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, January 23, 2018. (Photo credit: Belmont University)
Randy Boyd is spending $300,000 on a statewide ad buy in support of his Republican bid for governor, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.
The campaign confirmed the move to reporter Andy Sher, who spotted the evidence of the buy in Federal Communications Commission filings.
Newspaper finds little evidence of early action at General Assembly
Senators attend a hearing on open records exemptions in Nashville on Jan. 30, 2018. From left are Republican Sens. Ed Jackson of Jackson, Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga, and Paul Bailey of Sparta. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)
So what has the Tennessee General Assembly achieved since this year’s legislative session began? Not much, the Tennessean finds.
