Poll says Boyd has pulled ahead of Black in GOP gubernatorial primary
While Diane Black led other Republican candidates in a Tennessee Star poll some months ago, the arch-conservative online website reports a new survey this week shows Randy Boyd is now the frontrunner.
Boyd’s first TV attack ad bashes ‘D.C. Diane’
The initial clip in the Randy Boyd campaign ad, entitled “D.C. Diane,” shows Black being interviewed along with other members of Congress by journalist Katie Couric during the 2016 campaign.
TN Right to Life endorses Black for governor
Press release from Diane Black campaign
Nashville, Tenn. — Today, Tennessee Right to Life announced its endorsement of Diane Black for Governor. Tennessee Right to Life’s endorsement is the most recent on a growing list of pro-life organizations backing Diane Black including Susan B. Anthony List and National Right to Life.
Christian conservative group backs Black for governor
Press release from Diane Black campaign
Nashville, Tenn. — Family Research Council Action PAC has endorsed Diane Black for Governor. In the endorsement letter, FRC Action PAC Executive Vice President, Lt. General (Ret.) Jerry Boykin praised Black for her leadership on Capitol Hill and the strength she has shown fighting for Tennessee families.
“For Rep. Black’s dedication to the values of faith, family, and freedom, as well as her many votes to protect these values, she’s been a repeated recipient of FRC Action’s ‘True Blue’ award,” Boykin said. “She has a reputation as a leader who doesn’t merely give lip service to her values, but acts on them. Her record of staunch conservatism and her continual commitment to people above policy will undoubtedly serve the people of Tennessee well.”
“The work FRC does to preserve family values is unmatched and our nation is a better place because of their efforts,” Black said. “There are many issues Tennessee’s next governor will have to address, but the most important is that of protecting our Tennessee values because when our values are lost, it’s nearly impossible to get them back. I am honored that FRC will support me as governor to fight for what’s right.”
Diane has proven herself to be a fighter for conservative legislation since first running for office. In Congress, she has sponsored FRC-backed legislation to defund Planned Parenthood as well as the Balanced Budget Amendment and the No Budget, No Pay Act
“She has set out to break the political mold by holding fast to truth that’s often sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. FRC Action is confident that Rep. Diane Black will continue to be a principled advocate for strong family values and personal prosperity, and we are pleased to offer our endorsement of her candidacy for governor of the state of Tennessee,” Boykin added.
Note: The Tennessee Christian conservative version of FRC, Family Action Council of Tennessee, doesn’t make endorsements. But the group does a “voter guide” and posts on its website FACT President David Fowler’s interviews with some candidates answering questions on same-sex marriage, abortion and other topics. Black, Boyd, Lee and Kay White did the interviews and answered the questions. Harwell sent a video instead, with FACT did not post. Democratic candidates Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh did not participate.
The candidate interview videos, with transcriptions of the questions and answers, are available HERE. Black’s version is HERE.
Black TV ad attacks Boyd and Lee as ‘moderates’
Diane Black has become the first gubernatorial candidate to air a TV attack ad. It targets two of her fellow Republicans, Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, calling both of them moderates and depicting Black as the only conservative in the GOP primary. Beth Harwell isn’t mentioned.
Poll finds Bredesen with 30 percent support among likely GOP voters in Blackburn’s home area
A poll of likely Republican voters in state House District 61, which includes the Brentwood home of U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, indicates 30 percent support Democrat Phil Bredesen over Blackburn in the U.S. Senate race, according to Tennessee Star. Blackburn had 61 percent support with the rest undecided.
Five guber candidates support collecting sales tax from out-of-state retailer sales to TN customers; differ on how to use resulting revenue
Five candidates for governor – Republicans Randy Boyd, Beth Harwell and Bill Lee along with Democrats Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh – praised a U.S. Supreme Court decision last week that means Tennessee can now require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by their Tennessee, reports the Times Free Press.
Their comments came at a gubernatorial candidate forum hosted by the newspaper Monday in Chattanooga. One major GOP candidate, Diane Black, was campaigning in Carter County Monday and did not participate.
Former Nashville mayor Dean’s latest TV: He’ll listen to ‘forgotten Tennessee’
Press release from Karl Dean campaign
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 25, 2018) — Today, the Karl Dean for Governor campaign released its third TV spot that will air in all major media markets across Tennessee.
The ad titled “Forgotten Tennessee” highlights what Karl has consistently heard from Tennesseans. While some parts of Tennessee are thriving, there are parts of Tennessee that are struggling and that is where Dean will focus his efforts as governor.
Lee new TV ad twofer: One focused on Jesus Christ, the other on Donald Trump (he supports both)
Press release from Bill Lee campaign
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Today, businessman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee released two new statewide television ads.
