The Future is Female
🚺 A woman is taking the governor’s mansion · O’Connell appoints NYC transportation adviser as next Director of NDOT · Trump endorses Hatcher · Much more!
Whitepilled with Scott Greer Join us Thursday, August 20 for a conversation with writer Scott Greer on how the online Right broke the old conservative order and built Trump's America. (Buy Ticket)
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A woman is taking the governor’s mansion. Can Republicans take the 9th?
From Megan Podsiedlik
Tennessee is poised to elect its first female governor this November, with Republican nominee Senator Marsha Blackburn as the heavy favorite. Both major-party nominees are women—Blackburn faces Democrat Jerri Green—so the milestone is likely locked in either way.
“Our work is much bigger than any one candidate or one campaign; we absolutely have to unite as a party and defeat the Democrats in November,” said Blackburn during her primary victory speech. “As your governor, I will not allow Tennessee to become New York or California.”
Despite the big tent victories that have defined much of the Trump-era Republican Party, the Democratic Party is better known for its ability to rally a diverse coalition under one banner post-primary. But Blackburn isn't exactly on the ropes. The senator nabbed 311,328 of the 714,810 votes cast in the Republican primary. For perspective, just 353,660 Tennesseans voted in the entire Democratic primary—leaving Democrats with little room to make up ground even if a significant share of Republican voters stay home in the general election.
Unity or Bust A race where party unity will play a crucial role this November is the Republican effort to flip Tennessee’s only Democratic-held congressional seat—the 9th District, currently represented by Steve Cohen—and turn it red. State Senator Brent Taylor won the Republican nomination and will face Democratic nominee state Representative Justin Pearson in the general election.
Pearson secured the Democratic nomination with just over 32,000 votes, roughly 1,000 more than Taylor received in the Republican primary. But Republicans turned out in greater numbers overall, giving Taylor an advantage heading into November if he can unite the party and bring voters who backed his primary challengers back to the polls.
Tennessee’s state and federal general elections will take place on November 3, with early voting from October 14 through October 29. Absentee ballots must be requested by October 24.
✹ WHITEPILLED
Whitepilled with Scott Greer In his new book Whitepill, Scott Greer traces how the online Right broke the old conservative order and made Trump possible, a history he watched from inside both DC and the subcultures that displaced it. Join us Thursday, August 20 for a conversation on how the Right got here and what it takes to move from rebellion to governing.
Books will be available for purchase. This event benefits The Pamphleteer, Nashville and is priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free, privileged admittance.
HEADLINES
- 🚲 Mayor O’Connell announces current NYC transportation adviser as next Director of NDOT. Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced Ryan Lynch as the next director of Nashville’s Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure. Lynch previously served as NYC DOT chief of staff and senior adviser, where he oversaw projects including nearly 100 miles of new bike infrastructure and major pedestrian and transit improvements. He will take over August 31, becoming only the second permanent NDOT director since the department was created in 2021. (Nashville Mayor’s Office)
- 🗳 Trump disavows Ogles after primary loss, endorses Hatcher. After Congressman Andy Ogles’ Republican primary loss in District 5 to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, President Donald Trump said Ogles had “virtually no chance” of winning despite his endorsement. Trump framed the loss as the lone exception to his otherwise successful record of backing candidates in Tennessee’s congressional primaries. Trump is now backing Hatcher, who defeated Ogles 53.2 percent to 46.8 percent. (TNJ)
- 🚺 Tennessee governor's race set to make history as Blackburn, Green win nominations. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination for governor, while Shelby County Public Defender and Memphis City Council member Jerri Green won the Democratic nomination, setting up a November race between two women. Whoever wins will become Tennessee’s first female governor. Blackburn is running on priorities including education, transportation, immigration, and economic growth, while Green is emphasizing affordability, healthcare, and opposition to federal overreach. (NewsChannel 5)
✹ PROPERTY TAX CALCULATOR
What Moved Your Bill? Use our handy new tool to see what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike. (Try It Out)
DEVELOPMENT
- BZA OKs variance for planned Elliston Place project (Post)
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🎸 Chuck Prophet @ City Winery, 7:30p, $42+, Info
+ neo-psych pioneer
🪕 Luke Borchelt @ The Basement, 7p, $12.85, Info
+ country singer songwriter
🪕 Bluegrass Mondays with Nate Leath @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.