Tag: tennessee

  • Federal judge blocks Biden administration guidance on transgender students

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    A federal judge from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on July 15, 2022, struck down a Department of Education order that aims to protect transgender students and workers from discrimination.  The Biden administration released the challenged guidance in response to recent legislation passed by states that aim to bar…

  • Tennessee has its fewest contested state legislative primaries in five election cycles

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    Tennessee has 36 contested state legislative primaries this year, 16% of the total number of possible primaries, and a 5% decrease from 2020. This is the fewest contested state legislative primaries in Tennessee over the past five election cycles. A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning…

  • Previewing Tennessee’s August 4 local ballot measures

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    Voters in Nashville and Memphis are heading to the polls on August 4 to decide on five amendments to their cities’ charters. Memphis voters will decide on one charter amendment. If passed, the Memphis measure would increase the term limits of the city council and mayor to three 4-year terms rather than the current two…

  • Thirty-six candidates are running for the U.S. House from Tennessee

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    The filing deadline for candidates running for Congress in Tennessee this year was April 7, 2022. Thirty-six candidates are running for Tennessee’s nine U.S. House districts, including 13 Democrats and 23 Republicans. That’s four candidates per district, less than the five candidates per district in 2020 and the 5.44 in 2018. Here are some other…

  • Funk defeats Myers, Nellis in Nashville District Attorney Democratic primary

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    Incumbent Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk defeated Sara Beth Myers and P. Danielle Nellis in the May 3 Democratic primary for that position. Funk received 43.4% of the vote, while Sara Beth Myers and P. Danielle Nellis received 40% and 16.6%, respectively. No Republicans filed to run in the Republican primary, leaving Funk without…

  • New Tennessee ballot measure to change constitutional language on clergy serving in the General Assembly

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    Tennessee’s 112th General Assembly adjourned and certified a new constitutional amendment to put onto the ballot on April 28. This amendment would remove a section of Tennessee’s Constitution that disqualifies religious ministers from being elected into the Tennessee General Assembly. The newly certified amendment will join three others already certified to be on the ballot…

  • Three candidates are running in the May 3 Democratic primary for Nashville District Attorney

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    Three candidates are running in the May 3 Democratic primary for Davidson County District Attorney: incumbent Glenn Funk, Sara Beth Myers, and P. Danielle Nellis. Funk was elected to an eight-year term in 2014. Nashville, Tennessee’s largest city, is the county seat of Davidson County. Funk has said he is “the only candidate in this…

  • Tennessee legislature passes bill to prohibit teaching certain divisive concepts in higher education

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    The Tennessee legislature on March 30 passed a bill that aims to prohibit an individual’s views on critical race theory from influencing decisions about hiring, tenure, promotion, or graduation in the state’s higher education institutions.  House Bill 2670 would “prohibit a public institution of higher education from taking certain actions with regard to divisive concepts…

  • Tennessee enacts new state legislative districts

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    Tennessee enacted new state legislative districts on Feb. 6, 2022, when Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a proposal approved by both legislative chambers into law. The maps will take effect for Tennessee’s 2022 state legislative elections. The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee released a proposed Senate district map on Jan. 13. On Jan. 18, the Senate Judiciary…

  • Tennessee enacts new congressional districts

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    Tennessee enacted new congressional districts on Feb. 6 when Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the legislature’s approved proposal into law. Tennessee was apportioned nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Tennessee’s 2022 congressional elections. The…