Tennessee House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), who is running as a Republican to represent Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, announced his campaign has over $1 million cash on hand entering the first quarter of 2026.
Garrett’s campaign said it raised over $450,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025, adding to the over $725,000 the campaign raised during the third quarter of 2025.
Two new Tennessee laws that help check voter eligibility will take effect at the beginning of 2026.
During the Tennessee General Assembly this year, the State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 69 and HB 1283. Governor Bill Lee signed these bills into law in May.
Rutherford County School Board Member Tammy Sharp (Zone 1) announced her re-election bid on Monday.
Sharp, a Republican, assumed office in 2018 and won re-election to the Board in 2022. She served as the Board’s chairwoman for approximately one year before stepping aside from the role after having been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now seeking a third term to the Board, Sharp said “it has been an honor to serve our community, and I am committed to continuing to stand up for our students, families, and values.”
Sharp touted her work on the Board over the years to “bring prayer back into the boardroom, remove inappropriate books from our schools, and make student safety a priority through countywide active shooter and security training.”
Last year, Sharp was among the Board members who voted to place six books with graphic adult themes on a “mature reading list” that would prevent students in Rutherford County schools from accessing the materials.
Sharp also pointed to her support for various career educational programs for Rutherford County students and role in securing funds to improve schools in the district.
“I believe parents deserve a voice, students deserve safe schools, and taxpayers deserve accountability. I have never been afraid to take a stand when it comes to protecting our children and defending our community’s values,” Sharp said.
Turning Point Action (TPA), an affiliate group of Turning Point USA, endorsed U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial race last week.
In 2019, the late Charlie Kirk founded TPA. The organization’s mission is to “embolden the conservative base through grassroots activism and provide voters with the necessary resources to elect true conservative leaders.”
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps has been projected as the winner of Tuesday’s special general election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, defeating Democratic nominee State Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) and four independent candidates.
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Van Epps, a U.S. Army veteran and former Lee administration official, at 8:06 p.m., when unofficial election results published by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office showed Van Epps with 58,735 votes compared to Behn’s 50,315 votes.
President Donald Trump is urging Republicans in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District not to be complacent in the upcoming December 2 special election, warning voters that Democrats are investing heavily in the race and stressing the importance of turning out to vote for Republican nominee Matt Van Epps.
Join our community of informed readers by subscribing to our newsletter. Receive the latest updates on state and local news directly to your inbox, ensuring you never miss a story that matters.