By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning and TGIF, Lookout readers:
Amidst talk about civility and gross nastiness in races across the country (see: Vivek Ramaswamy's ad in Ohio), Tennessee’s campaigns have been remarkably gentle.
Sure, state Sen. Brent Taylor, the 9th Congressional District Republican nominee calls Rep. Justin Pearson, an agent of chaos and GOP U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn defends her unwillingness to debate her Democratic gubernatorial rival, Memphis Councilmember Jerri Green by saying she “won’t give airtime to a socialist agenda” but the gloves have barely come off in most races.
Witness the 5th Congressional district race, featuring Columbia native and two-term Mayor Chaz Molder and Franklin native, veterinarian and dairy farmer Charlie Hatcher. Fact is, they both seem like decent human beings and even when they appear in forums, as they did Wednesday, they keep their sparring to policy issues.
On those, they differ, as Cassandra Stephenson reports, with Hatcher hewing to President Donald Trump’s lines and Molder taking a more moderate stance.
Meanwhile, in Congressional District 7:
Okay, the gloves ARE coming off. Until recently, GOP U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps, who was elected in a December 2025 special election, and Democrat Darden Copeland, have largely trade jibes over who has the right to wear and display camo gear, but the waning days of the campaign have grown heated over a controversial topic: abortion.
On Tuesday, Copeland interviewed with conservative talk radio host Matt Murphy, who asked Copeland about alleged “elective” late term abortions. Copeland said he “would not support a politician coming in and laying down a marker” when asked if he would support that “a woman could have an elective abortion at 8 months pregnant.”
Van Epps picked up the ball and ran, putting out a statement criticizing Copeland for supporting “abortion with no limits.” Copeland followed up with his own video clarifying his position, saying “there is absolutely no world in which I would support an elective abortion.”
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
5th Congressional District candidates, from right, Democrat Chaz Molder, Republican Charlie Hatcher, with back to camera, and independent candidate Micheal O’Leary pick questions from a bowl at a Wednesday forum in Spring Hill sponsored by a consortium of chambers of commerce. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Cassandra Stephenson
Republican Charlie Hatcher and Democrat Chaz Molder clashed on President Donald Trump’s handling of international tariffs, but agreed on the importance of constituent services and an urgent need to reduce the cost of living during a Wednesday forum in Williamson County that is likely to be the last such meeting before the November 3 election.
NEWS AND NOTES
Dems in Congress say they’re wary Trump won’t accept results of election | Jonathan Shorman
Judge blocks Homeland Security from conducting election-related sweeps in 9 states | Jonathan Shorman
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
Sparta Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell, photographed at the June unveiling of the “Monument to the Unborn” outside the Capitol, recently said in a public forum he would like public hangings to be used in death penalty cases. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
Tennessee Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell of Sparta is reiterating support for public hangings three years after giving a half-baked apology for calling for a return to “hanging from a tree” as a form of capital punishment.
ICYMI
Memphis City Council asks ICE, National Guard to leave | Anita Wadhwani
Congressional candidates for Shelby County districts raise combined $4.6M in 90 days | Cassandra Stephenson
COMMENTARY
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