PAC linked to Club for Growth hits Harwell, Winstead in 5th District race
The School Freedom Fund, a PAC tied to the Washington-based Club for Growth, is sending out mailers attacking Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead as not sufficiently Republican to represent the state in the 5th Congressional District.
Harwell is a former speaker of the state House of Representatives and a onetime chair of the Tennessee Republican Party. Winstead is a retired brigadier general in the Tennessee National Guard. According to the group, both are “beholden to liberal Democrats.” The mailers cite Harwell’s vote for then-Gov. Bill Haslam’s 6-cent gas tax hike in 2017 and her endorsement from the Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, during her unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018. Winstead is criticized for giving more than $2,500 in campaign donations to Democrats (unmentioned are the more than $7,000 he has given to Republicans over the last four years, including $3,000 to Republican Gov. Bill Lee).
The mailers appear to try to boost the prospects of Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles. The Club for Growth was last active in a Tennessee congressional race in 2020 in the open 1st District race, backing former state Rep. Timothy Hill (R-Blountville). Diana Harshbarger won the nomination with 19% of the vote, compared with 16.7% for Hill and 16.1% for state Sen. Rusty Crowe.
Bob Corlew endorsed by TN Right to Life in 6th Congressional District GOP primary
Press release from Bob Corlew campaign
Mount Juliet, TN – Today, the Tennessee Right to Life PAC announced its endorsement of Bob Corlew, the conservative Republican for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.
Matlock endorsed by chairman of U.S. House Freedom Caucus
Press release from Jimmy Matlock campaign
(Lenoir City, TN) – The Matlock for Congress Campaign announced Wednesday House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) has endorsed Jimmy Matlock in Tennessee’s Second Congressional District.
Matlock radio ad cites Burchett vote for Democrat as state Senate speaker, asks if he’d vote for Nancy Pelosi as U.S. House speaker
A radio ad unveiled today by state Rep. Jimmy Matlock’s campaign notes his leading opponent in the Republican 2nd Congressional District primary, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, voted as a state senator for the election of a Democrat as speaker of the Tennessee Senate and questions whether he would vote for Democrat Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the U.S. House. Here’s the Matlock campaign press release plus a note on the referenced vote.
DesJarlais spurns debate with GOP challenger who voted for Clinton (as Rush Limbaugh suggested)
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais has turned down a debate challenge from Republican challenger Jack Maddux in the 4th Congressional District on grounds he has voted for Hillary Clinton and is thus not a credible candidate, reports the Cleveland Daily Banner. Maddux acknowledges he did so, but says that was at the request of radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
FEC dismisses complaints against Burchett and Matlock in 2nd Congressional District campaign
The Federal Election Commission has dismissed complaints filed against Tim Burchett and Jimmy Matlock, competiting candidates in the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary, reports the News Sentinel.
Protesters disrupt Roe campaign event; he vows to ‘bury’ Democrats
Over a dozen people protesting President Trump’s immigration policies “crashed” U.S. Rep. Phil Roe’s official announcement of his re-election campaign Monday, reports the Johnson City Press. One of them was a Democrat seeking her party’s nomination for the 1st Congressional seat. Roe subsequently told supporters he wants to “bury” Democrats in November.
Matlock poll shows tight race with Burchett in 2nd Congressional District GOP primary
Press release from Jimmy Matlock campaign
According to a recent survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Neil Newhouse, East Tennessee voters who hear Jimmy Matlock’s message want the conservative businessman to be their next Congressman. Among those voters, Matlock leads career politician Tim Burchett 41%-40%.
“This is a two-way race between Matlock and Burchett. No other candidate tested on the ballot garners more than 2% of the vote,” said Newhouse.
Sundquist backs Jimmy Matlock in 2nd Congressional District Republican primary
Former Gov. Don Sundquist, who earlier endorsed Randy Boyd in the governor’s race and Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate, is now backing state Rep. Jimmy Matlock in the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary, reports Tennessee Star.
The Star posts a copy of a fundraiser for Matlock, to be held in Knoxville on June 18, with outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr. and Sundquist listed as special guests supporting the state representative – along with their wives. Suggested minimum contribution is $500 per person.
Judge rules Cohen opponent can run in Democratic primary, contrary to state party action
Shelby County Chancellor Walter Evans has ruled that M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams can run as a Democrat against U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the August primary, reports the Commercial Appeal.
