Holly McCall
@jhollymc
Editor, Tennessee Lookout. Nonprofit news outlet holding the powerful accountable. Ego adepto stercore factum. Publish the news and raise hell.
'Morning, peeps. Whose ready to break down Thursday's primary? Bring your hot takes here.
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, a Democrat, and former Tennessee agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher, the newly-minted Republican nominee, will face off in November's general election for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District.
Estimating about 75 people here: it was invitation only. Rep. Johnny Garrett said is talking about "protecting our daughters when they play softball, basketball, from playing against full grown men." Introduces Riley Gaines, says she didn't take her "second place trophy" and go away.
My first campaign stop of the day is at the Paper Mill in Mt. Juliet for a joint with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor and state Rep. Johnny Garrett, a GOP candidate for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs is also here.
Gas prices are nearing $4 a gallon and we can't afford groceries but sure, Jan. Our federal government is focusing on this.
Farmers are all the rage in Tennessee politics this year. Williamson County farmer and former Ag Commissioner Charlie Hatcher takes on U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Today, U.S. Rep. John Rose, a gubernatorial candidate and also a former state ag commissioner, released a Rose for Governor Farmers Coalition.
On the campaign trail: former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher is having a "Farmers for Hatcher" event at Southall Angus in Franklin with Sonny Perdue, former governor of Georgia and former Trump agriculture secretary.
Coming to you live from the Tennessee Press Association awards, where John Partipilo hauled in a first place for Best News Photography for @tennesseelookout.com.
State troopers are standing between the monument to unborn children and protesters outside the Tennessee Capitol.
Covering the unveiling at the Tennessee Capitol of the Monument to the Unborn: Texas and Arkansas also have similar monuments coming. There's a passel of Republican lawmakers here, including Reps. Justin Lafferty and Kevin Raper, pictured below. Also, counterprotesters.
Impact Research, a Democratic polling firm headed by Obama pollster John Anzalone, has one out showing Democratic Columbia Chaz Molder 6 points behind incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Impact, which is also doing polling for Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson. Top lines on the Molder poll here.
Hey, friends. The @tennesseelookout.com turned 6 in early May! We didn't celebrate then because we were covering special session. If you appreciate our bringing you daily news of Tennessee government and politics, consider chipping in to help our nonprofit outlet. tennesseelookout.com/donate/ .
One of my favorite poems, by WWI veteran Wilfred Owens on the cost of war:
I took time off this week but this just came over the transom: Tennessee GOP Rep. Todd Warner is running for Congress in the new 9th Congressional District. Sen. Brent Taylor announced Thursday. Hot take: Warner may not win but will definitely gouge some eyeballs on his down.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, who spoke during protests at the Legislature on Tuesday about a new congressional redistricting process, is out with an email today addressing the GOP-drawn new maps.
That was fast: State Sen. Brent Taylor will run for Congress in Tennessee's new 9th Congressional District:
Boy, this is flex. Retiring Lt. Gov. Randy McNally calls Sen. Charlane Oliver's conduct -- she stood on her desk during a vote that will effectively strip representation from Black Memphis -- unbecoming. Hell of a legacy, sir.
Crowd in Tennessee Capitol is singing "Which side are you?" and hollering at state troopers: "You don't have to do this! You can join us." Democrats are out and speaking to the crowd.
GOP Sens. Janice Bowling and Bobby Harshbarger got stuck in the crowd waiting for an elevator.
Senate Democrats are at the front of the chamber. Sen. Charlane Oliver is standing on her desk holding a banner reading "No Jim Crow". State troopers are removing protesters from the gallery. Cacophony outside chambers.
I can't get in Senate Chambers so I'm watching in the monitor outside. All the Democratic women are wearing a white to symbolize suffrage. Senator Jeff Yarbro is also wearing a white tie.
Tennessee Senate debate on redistricting continues. There are about 50 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers lining the hall outside Senate Chambers presumably to provide a pathway for GOP senators on adjournment.
Martin Luther King, III has weighed into the Tennessee redistricting mess: "This is not just a political issue. It is a moral and civic one."
For those interested, here's the agenda for today's Tennessee House Committee on Redistricting. Notably, it removes the prohibition on changing congressional districts between U.S. Census apportionments.
Protesters are singing civil rights songs in the Tennessee Senate State and Local Government Committee.
