By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
The day is here: Election Day, midterms, when results may reflect on dissatisfaction with the president and party in charge of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
National pundits predict no wild swings in Tennessee, no pick-ups in the state’s nine congressional districts — several of which were redrawn in a May special legislative session — but Democrats hold hope strong candidates can pull out a couple of surprise wins.
The Lookout’s reporters will be covering the the big ticket items, including the governor’s and congressional races but we’ll also be reporting on a handful of state House and Senate races with implications for future redistricting. We’ll be coming to you from all three of the state’s Grand Divisions throughout the day and will post results tonight.
But! The election isn’t everything. The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a pair of wins to the state while a lower court ruled against Tennessee in a case filed over the denial of drivers licenses to immigrants living in the U.S. with federally-issued work permits.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
Democratic candidate Allie Phillips, pictured in Clarksville on the final day of the early voting period in Tennessee, is running for one of several state House districts Democrats hope to flip. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Adam Friedman and Sam Stockard
Tennessee will elect a new governor in Tuesday’s election, but down-ballot races for the U.S. House and the state legislature could also affect congressional map redrawings and the election of the next state Senate speaker.
ELECTION 2026
The Department of Justice is dispatching 1,000 election observers across the nation, with a presence in each state including Tennessee. Pictured: Voters line up in a Clarksville poll during the last day of the early voting, Oct. 29. 2026. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Anita Wadhwani
Teams of federal election monitors will be present in Tennessee — including in Shelby County — on Tuesday as part of the Trump administration plan to “oversee federal voting protections and investigate potential election fraud,” according to a Justice Department spokesperson.
NEWS AND NOTES
Trump promotes Reflecting Pool renovation the day before the election | Ashley Murray, States Newsroom
As a potential Democratic wave looms, Trump’s DOJ angles for last-minute power over midterms | Jonathan Shorman, States Newsroom
Election officials brace for federal interference but expect to persevere | Kevin Hardy, Stateline
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
A Nashville judge has temporarily blocked new Tennessee rules denying driver’s licenses to immigrants with valid federal work permits. Pictured: ICE agents take a man into custody during a May 2025 sweep of a predominantly immigrant Nashville neighborhood as a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer looks on. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Anita Wadhwani
A Nashville judge temporarily blocked Tennessee officials from denying driver’s licenses and license renewals to immigrants authorized by the federal government to live and work in the United States.
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a state law that will allow Metro Nashville Council to be cut from 40 members to 20. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
The Tennessee Supreme Court denied a constitutional challenge to a new state law cutting the Metro Nashville Council in half and, separately, dismissed a case challenging a state takeover of Nashville’s airport authority.
ICYMI
Early voting turnout tops 1.28M, about 98K short of 2018 total | Cassandra Stephenson
COMMENTARY
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