By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning and TGIF, Lookout readers:
Halloween weekend. A critical midterm election just days away.
As if those aren’t scary enough, we bring you stories today of dark money in the governor’s race and skullduggery in the Tennessee Senate Republican caucus.
Reporter Adam Friedman went through pre-general election campaign finance reports to find outside political action committees — those not affiliated with a candidate — have dumped almost $10 million into attacking conservative independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley, who is predicted to make a significant foray into the voter base of Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
Meanwhile, in the state Senate Republican caucus, chickens are being counted before hatching. Senior Reporter Sam Stockard writes that ahead of a November GOP leadership vote to select the new Senate Speaker, who also serves as lieutenant governor, a lawmaker confirms that in a first-of-its-kind move, Sen. Brent Taylor could get the chance to vote by proxy — assuming he wins his 9th Congressional District seat and heads to Washington.
The vote for lieutenant governor is tight, and Taylor is thought to be siding with Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson of Franklin.
In other news:
Forum fallout. In Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate, Democratic nominee Jerri Green said during her response to a criminal justice question that she served as Cyntoia Brown Long’s first lawyer. Brown Long, a victim of sexual trafficking, was charged with murder at 16 after she killed a man who “bought” her from her trafficker. Former Gov. Bill Haslam gave Brown Long clemency and she was released from prison in 2019.
Emily West with The Nashville Post reported Thursday that Brown Long flatly denied Green was her lawyer after saying in a social media post, “I don’t know (Green) from a can of paint”
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
David Hatley, center, is an independent candidate running for governor. Political action committees supporting his Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn have spent $10 million on attack ads. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Adam Friedman
Two independent expenditure groups have now spent just under $10 million attacking Tennessee independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley with the 2026 election less than five days away.
ELECTION 2026
Palace intrigue: Sen. Ken Yager, left, a Kingston Republican, says GOP Senate leaders are considering allowing Sen. Brent Taylor to vote by proxy in the GOP caucus election to be Senate Speaker. Sen. Jack Johnson, right, of Franklin, is a candidate. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
A move may be afoot to allow Sen. Brent Taylor, the Republican nominee for the 9th Congressional District, to vote by proxy in the state Senate GOP Caucus leadership elections: if Taylor wins his congressional race, he’d not be present for the November 10 meeting to elected the next Senate speaker in a tight race.
NEWS AND NOTES
In a blizzard of lawsuits, Trump’s DOJ battles across the US over midterm elections | Jonathan Shorman, States Newsroom
Trump cancels weekend Kansas and Iowa rallies 5 days ahead of election | Shauneen Miranda, States Newsroom
ELECTION 2026
Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, left, Democratic Memphis City Council member Jerri Green and independent Lauren Pinkston are three of the woman vying to be Tennessee’s first female governor. (Photos by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Ruby Rayner for Tennessee Lookout
The number of women serving as governor across the country is at a record high but Tennessee is unusual in that the gubernatorial nominees for both major parties are women. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, Memphis City Councilmember Jerri Green, the Democratic nominee, and independent candidate Lauren Pinkston talk about the challenges they face amid progress for female candidates.
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
A meta view of the set for the 2026 Gubernatorial Forum in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University on Oct. 27, 2026. (Photo: Ephraim Rodenbach/MTSU Seigenthaler News Service)
by J. Holly McCall
Tennessee Lookout photojournalist John Partipilo and Ephraim Rodenbach, student journalist with MTSU Seigenthaler News Service, went behind the scenes to photograph private moments with Tennessee gubernatorial candidates as well as well as the public ones at Tuesday’s forum, hosted by the Tennessee Press Association and Middle Tennessee State University.
ICYMI
Gov. Lee extends off-road diesel enforcement relief for farmers, loggers through Dec. 31 | Cassandra Stephenson
Thanks for reading The Daily Lookout. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.