GOP gubernatorial candidates showed at Trump rally; only Black got presidential mention
While President Trump’s Nashville rally was held to support Marsha Blackburn’s run for the U.S. Senate, four Republican gubernatorial candidates were on hand as well to show support for the president and look for votes, reports WKRN TV. U.S. Rep. Diane Black got a presidential mention.
Another Black poll shows her leading Boyd in GOP gubernatorial primary (41 percent to 28 percent)
An internal polling memo leaked by U.S. Rep. Diane Black’s campaign shows her on top of GOP primary competitor Randy Boyd by 13 points, reports the Nashville Post, close to the results of an earlier Black-commissioned poll that was labeled “bogus” by Boyd’s campaign.
Bill Lee TV ad quotes Jesus — ‘Love the Lord… love your neighbor’
Press release from Bill Lee campaign
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee released a new statewide television ad entitled, “Serve.” The ad is the second of his campaign, and is the first in a series of ads planned for the coming weeks.
Ad Script:
“Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord – but the second one is like it – love your neighbor.
And that means that we’re called to serve.
Now only He knows how imperfectly I’ve done that, but I do try to serve my family, my neighbors and twelve hundred employees every day.
As governor, you have my word – I’ll work to serve your family the very same way.”
Guber forum: Harwell and Boyd clash on ECD grants; Fitzhugh criticizes Dean
In a gubernatorial candidate forum Tuesday, House Speaker Beth Harwell promised, if elected, to reject any state-funded financial incentives for businesses moving into Middle Tennessee, reports The Tennessean. Fellow Republican candidate Randy Boyd, a former ECD commissioner, rejected the idea.
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh criticized his primary opponent, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, on his handling of federal relief funding after a 2010 flood hit the city.
GOP gubernatorial candidates fret about trade war, but declare trust in Trump
President Donald Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on foreign aluminum and steel drew concerns from most Republican candidates for governor at a forum on Thursday at Martin, according to the Associated Press. They generally indicated worry about a trade war could harming Tennessee’s farm exports, particularly soybeans.
House’s $250K Memphis money cut becomes GOP debate topic, inspires fundraising drive
In a debate Wednesday, three Republican candidates for governor said they disagreed with a House vote to cut $250,000 in funding for Memphis because of the city’s removal of Confederate monuments from former city parks. But Diane Black, Randy Boyd and Bill Lee also said they opposed the city’s action, reports the Memphis Daily News. House Speaker Beth Harwell, who missed the debate while presiding over the House in Nashville, voted for the Memphis funding cut.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been started on Facebook to raise funds to make up the money lost through the House vote, according to a separate News report. As of Thursday morning, $44,765 had been raised toward the $250,000 goal.
Guber campaign money: Boyd sets new record for self-financing (Lee and Black close behind)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd has set a new record for self-financing in a Tennessee political campaign, a review of financial disclosures filed this week shows. Williamson County businessman Bill Lee has also clearly passed U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s old record and Diane Black has roughly matched it.
Bill Lee quits business coalition board that endorsed candidate in Nashville mayor’s race
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee resigned from the board of the Nashville Business Coalition Wednesday after the group publicly urged Democrat David Briley to seek election as Nashville mayor and called on other prospective candidates to stay out of the race, reports Tennessee Star. Briley, who had been vice mayor, took over duties as mayor following the resignation of former mayor Megan Barry this week.
GOP gubernatorial candidates differ — or dodge — on Trump’s gun law proposals
Excerpt from a story by the AP’s Jonathan Mattise:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In gun-friendly Tennessee, President Donald Trump’s ideas to ban bump stocks and bar people under 21 from buying semi-automatic guns have put the leading GOP candidates for governor in a tough spot. In response, they have mostly avoided taking firm stances.
Lee gets celebrity help in seeking evangelical vote (‘God can work through him’)
Williamson County businessman Bill Lee has five celebrities serving as “honorary co-chairs” in a listing of his gubernatorial campaign supporters called “Community and Faith-Based Advisory Council.” Celebrities are country music star Ricky Skaggs, former Nashville Predators captain Mike Fisher, former NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip along with gospel singers Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith.
