Former Lawmakers Qualify in Race to Replace Lt. Gov. McNally
Jimmy Matlock (left) and Stacey Campfield (right) (Photos by the Tennessee General Assembly)
Tuesday’s deadline to qualify for the August primary ballot included two familiar names in one of the most-watched open-seat races.
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, announced his intention to retire last month, leaving his Senate District 5 seat open for the first time since the 1980s.
The Secretary of State’s office qualified two candidates for the August Republican primary, including former State Senator Stacey Campfield and former State Representative Jimmy Matlock.
Campfield was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2004 and served three terms before winning the Senate District 7 seat in 2010. He lost his seat in the 2014 GOP primary and then lost a bid to return to the General Assembly in 2018’s House District 89 Republican primary.
Campfield’s tenure in the General Assembly included sponsoring multiple controversial bills and statements, including a 2004 news report that quoted him lamenting that he couldn’t join the legislative Black Caucus. In 2011, he co-sponsored legislation that was dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, which would have prohibited teaching about homosexuality in grades K-8. Two years later, Campfield sponsored legislation opponents referred to as the “Starve Our Children Bill” that would have reduced Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) payments to parents if their children failed to maintain satisfactory progress in school.
Matlock won the 2010 election for House District 21 and served four terms before unsuccessfully running for Congress. He currently owns Matlock Tire Service and Auto Repair in Lenoir City.
The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat, and public-school teacher, David Miller in November.
Other Senate Challenges
Of the 16 remaining Senate seats up for re-election, just six drew primary challengers.
Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, faces fellow Republicans Dennis Beavers and Teresa Congioloso in the Senate District 1 GOP primary.
Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, faces Dan Pohlgeers in the Senate District 3 GOP primary.
Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, faces Kent Morrell in the Senate District 7 GOP primary.
Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, faces Chad Huntsman in the Senate District 9 GOP primary.
Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, faces Theodore “Butch” Baker in the Senate District 17 GOP primary.
Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, faces Tamika Abrum in the Senate District 33 Democratic primary.
Open House Seats
On the House side, there are ten open seats up for grabs.
House Republican Caucus Leader Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, chose to retire, leaving Kenny Cody, Jeff Fancher, and Charles Southerland to face off in the House District 11 Republican Primary. The winner will face Democrat Sheila Grooms McMahan in November.
Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, has chosen to step aside from his District 32 seat to run for governor. Republicans Melissa Caldwell Browder, Jack Stockton, and Paul Suarez will face off in the August primary. The winner will face Democrat Ali Simpson.
In House District 2, Kingsport Republicans Richard Isaacs and Gary Stidham are facing off to replace Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, who’s retiring.
House District 8 will see Republicans Tony Crisp and Jordan Henderson and Democrats Mac Pickle and Hilary Trudell vie to replace departing Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, who’s running for Blount County Mayor.
In House District 31, Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton, has decided to run for Rhea County mayor, leaving Republicans John Bobo, Harold “Bo” McCawley, and Andy Swafford to face off in the August primary. The winner will face Democrat Michael Woodlee in November.
In House District 45, four Republicans are running to replace Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, who’s running for Congress. They include John Gentry, Chris Hughes, Jesse Powell, and Brian Stewart. The winner will face Democrat Mandy Cook.
In District 78, Republicans John Greer, Perry Keenan, and John Louallen will face off in the Republican primary to replace the departing Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson. Hillary Capes-Gwinn and Aniya Farmer will compete in the Democratic primary for the seat.
Two Republicans qualified for the race to replace departing Rep Debra Moody, R-Covington, in District 81. They include Jason Fleming and Brett Giannini.
Democrats Retiring
Two incumbent Democrats are retiring from the House, including Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, and Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville.
Democrats Rick Ewing, Angie Lawless, Mark Proctor, and Beth West are running to replace Hemmer in House District 59, along with Republican Bill Hancock.
The race for Shaw’s House District 80 has attracted Democrats Andrea Johnson, Bethany Miller, Shelia Godwin, along with Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic, who’s running as a Republican.
McTizic was the first African American elected Mayor of the City of Bolivar, and he’d be the only African American Republican in the General Assembly.
House Challenges to Watch
Multiple incumbent Representatives drew primary challenges this year, including Rep. Todd Warner, R-Lewisburg, who’s facing two opponents in the GOP primary for House District 92. They include Vincent Cuevas and Chadwick White.
Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, is also facing two challengers in her GOP primary, including Brent Jones and Elliott Schuchardt, both from Knoxville.
Other incumbent challenges to watch this year include the House District 1 GOP primary between Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol, and Jessica Means, and the House District 5 primary between Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, and Tammy Albright.
In House District 27, Rep. Michele Reneau, R-Signal Mountain, faces Todd Hullender in the primary, while Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, faces Noah Smith in the House District 36 GOP primary.
Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, faces former opponent Michelle Foreman in the House District 65 GOP primary, while Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta, faces Dewayne Howard in the District 43 primary.
In House District 84, Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, faces U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen’s Staff Assistant Kyler Gilkey in the Democratic primary.
District 75 Rematch
In House District 75, Rep. Michael Lankford, R- Palmyra, did not draw a challenger in the Republican primary, but he will face Democrat Allie Phillips in November. Montgomery County Commissioners narrowly chose Lankford over Phillips last December to serve the remainder of the late Rep. Jeff Burkhart’s term.
Phillips ran against Burkhart in 2024 and came up just under 2,000 votes short of upsetting him.
