Tag Archives: Tennessee

Less than a month after Democrats notched a series of victories in the Nov. 4 general election, the political spotlight shifts to Tennessee on Tuesday, where a special congressional election in the state’s 7th District will offer both parties their first test heading into the 2026 midterms. Republicans are working …

President Donald Trump has pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex–chief of staff Cade Cothren, who were convicted last year on federal corruption charges tied to a scheme involving a fake political consulting firm. Casada, a Republican who once led the Tennessee House, was sentenced in September …

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., announced Wednesday that she is running for governor of Tennessee, setting up a high-stakes GOP primary and potentially becoming the state’s first female governor. Her campaign launch video tied her closely to former President Donald Trump and emphasized staunch conservative policies on immigration, education, and …

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law prohibiting gender affirming care for minors, saying children who seek the treatment don’t qualify as a protected class. In United States v. Skrmetti, the high court issued a 6-3 ruling Wednesday overturning a lower court’s finding that the restrictions violate the constitutional rights …

A conservative U.S. Supreme Court appeared ready to side with Tennessee Wednesday in upholding the state’s ban on gender affirming care for minors, a case likely to set legal precedent on equal protection for transgender children. A decision from the court isn’t expected until June 2025, but Republican-appointed justices such …

Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout Balcony crowds chanted, “Blood on your hands” and “Vote them out,” after the House voted Tuesday to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons on school campuses. House Republicans passed the legislation 68-28 enabling school districts and local law enforcement to opt in on the law and …

First Amendment defenders on Wednesday applauded a judge’s ruling that temporarily blocked Tennessee Capitol rules approved by state House Republicans, which earlier this week were used to remove gun control advocates from a subcommittee hearing. The ruling was handed down by Davidson County Chancellor Anne Martin hours after the ACLU …

Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout A coalition of civil rights and civic organizations has filed a federal lawsuit alleging Tennessee’s 2022 redistricting plan violates the 14th and 15th amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the rights of Black voters. Filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee on …

Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout Late Friday, a federal judge overturned a new Tennessee law prohibiting drag performances in public spaces, ruling it unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker ruled the Adult Entertainment Act (AEA) violates the separation-of-state principle and chills speech protected through the First Amendment. In March, Friends of …

Anita Wadhwani, Tennessee Lookout Eight months after Tennessee enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation, Gov. Bill Lee on Friday quietly signed a law providing narrow exceptions. The new law, which went into effect immediately, allows physicians to perform abortions in limited medical emergencies: molar or ectopic …

Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout Gov. Bill Lee will call a special session to tackle gun reform after the Tennessee Legislature adjourned for the year Friday night without tackling gun reform nearly a month after a mass shooting at a Nashville private school. The governor said Friday night he made the …

Daja E. Henry Originally published by The 19th As the dust settles in Tennessee after the past few weeks, there have been allusions to change. But still, much remains the same. There was a mass school shooting in Nashville, a protest over gun violence that left two Black lawmakers expelled …

Adam Friedman, Tennessee Lookout The Shelby County Commission voted unanimously to reappoint Justin Pearson to the state House seat Republicans expelled him from six days ago. House Republicans kicked out Pearson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, for violating the chamber’s rules on decorum when the two men took over …

Adam Friedman, Tennessee Lookout The Metro Nashville Council voted unanimously to send former Rep. Justin Jones back to the Tennessee House, moments before he was sworn in Monday among a huge crowd on the steps of the State Capitol and returned to the House floor by about 5:30. “I want …

Daja E. Henry Originally published by The 19th A day after Tennessee Democratic representatives Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones were expelled from the state legislature, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at Jones’ alma mater — Fisk University, a historically Black institution — delivering a message of praise for the …