Vice President JD Vance Endorses GOP Nominee Kenny Cody in Tennessee State House District 11 Race

by Kaitlin Housler | Aug 18, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South

Vice President JD Vance endorsed Republican nominee Kenny Cody in the race for Tennessee House District 11. In a statement distributed by Cody’s campaign, Vance called the Republican nominee a “friend” who would make a “fantastic” state representative for the...

Tennessee House GOP Primaries See Powers Ousted, Cody Advance

by Kaitlin Housler | Aug 7, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South

State Rep. Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) lost his bid for a ninth term in the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday, marking the most significant incumbent defeat in the state’s legislative primaries. According to final unofficial results published by the...

TN House Speaker Strips Democrats from Committee Assignments Following Disruptions Seeking to Block Redistricting Vote

by Kaitlin Housler | May 12, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced Tuesday that Democratic lawmakers will be removed from all current House standing committee and subcommittee assignments following disruptions to last week’s special legislative session on congressional...

Tennessee Democrat State Rep. G.A. Hardaway Dies at 71

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 24, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee State Representative G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) died at the age of 71 after passing away early Friday morning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville following a brief illness, his family announced. Hardaway began his legislative career in 2007,...

Tennessee Senate Approves Expansion of School Voucher Program to 35,000 Students, Bill Now Heads to Governor’s Desk

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 16, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

The Tennessee Senate on Thursday narrowly approved an expansion of the state’s Education Freedom Scholarship program, advancing a version of House Bill 2532 that would grow the program to 35,000 students, an increase of 15,000 scholarships from the initial amount...

House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison Not Seeking Reelection This Year

by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 15, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee State Representative and House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection this year. Faison, who represents District 11 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, said in a video for his...

Michael Lankford Appointed Interim State Rep. for District 75

by Kaitlin Housler | Dec 11, 2025 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford was elected by his colleagues on the Commission this week to fill the vacancy in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 75 on an interim basis following the passing of State Rep. Jeff Burkhart...

Tennessee Officials Mourn Loss of State Rep. Jeff Burkhart

by Kaitlin Housler | Nov 14, 2025 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee officials are mourning the loss of State Representative Jeff Burkhart (R-Clarksville) after the incumbent Republican passed away overnight at his home in Montgomery County. Burkhart, 63, has represented state House District 75 since 2023. He most recently...

Tennessee AG Skrmetti Applauds Federal Judge’s Dismissal of Lawsuit Brought by State Rep. Justin Jones

by Kaitlin Housler | Nov 3, 2025 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti praised U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson for dismissing the lawsuit filed by State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) over his 2023 expulsion from the Tennessee General Assembly. In the lawsuit filed against...

TN-6 Republican Candidate Johnny Garrett: Washington D.C. Needs Tennessee Values

by Kaitlin Housler | Oct 20, 2025 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), who is running to represent Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, said his campaign is rooted in bringing the Volunteer State’s common-sense conservative leadership to Congress. Garrett, who was...