By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
Lawyers for death row inmate Christa Pike prevailed in a Davidson County Chancery courtroom on Wednesday as a judge ordered Tennessee Department of Correction officials to preserve all evidence from Pike’s failed execution on Sept. 30.
The ruling is the latest twist in a case that has made national news over the last week, and statements by Pike’s lawyers in a press conference after the court hearing will surely keep media covering the case.
“On Monday night, it was our understanding [Pike] was brain dead and life support would be removed the next day,” said Randy Spivey, a Pike lawyer. “But on Tuesday, to the shock of everyone… [she] woke up and was talking.”
The next steps are unclear, but Adam Friedman has the report on Wednesday’s events.
And we are pleased to introduce Ben Sessoms, who has an in-depth piece today about deep red East Tennessee, home of Chattanooga, whose voters last cast ballots for a Democratic presidential candidate in Harry Truman’s 1948 win. Sessoms, formerly of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, reports data from the August local elections show change may be afoot.
In other news:
More from Memphis: The Memphis Flyer reports on the fallout after members of the Memphis City Council delayed a vote on a data center moratorium Tuesday and pandemonium broke out.
Ad watch: Dr. Charlie Hatcher, the Republican nominee for the 5th Congressional District, is out with an ad touting his experience as a farmer and businessman with the tag line, “Hire the farmer.
Of note: Hatcher’s Democratic opponent, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, released a poll commissioned by his campaign that shows Molder 5 percentage points down from Hatcher. The poll has a +/-4.2% margin of error.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
Randy Spivey, an attorney for Christa Pike, gives an update on her condition following Tennessee’s botched execution on Sept. 30, 2026. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Adam Friedman
Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles ruled that the Tennessee Department of Correction must “preserve all evidence” related to the failed execution of Christa Pike by two rounds of lethal injection last week.
NEWS AND NOTES
US Senate candidates in 9 key races quiet about Social Security benefits cliff | Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters | Jonathan Shorman, States Newsroom
Top Democratic US Senate PAC commits to 9 states, eyes more Republican targets | Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
“I had that same perception that it was more conservative than it actually is,” said Josh Wichman, a Democrat who was elected to the Hamilton County Commission in August. (Photo: Ben Sessoms for Tennessee Lookout)
by Ben Sessoms for Tennessee Lookout
For decades, long before President Donald Trump entered politics, East Tennessee has been a reliable voting bloc for conservatives. But if the local elections in August are a sign of what’s to come, that may be beginning to change.
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
Members of Tennessee’s Transportation Modernization Board awarded a contract to build toll lanes from to a transportation group called Drive Tennessee. One of the losing bidders is now suiting state transportation officials. (Photo: Sam Stockard/Tennessee Lookout)
by Anita Wadhwani
The losing bidder in a multi-billion-dollar project to add toll lanes to Interstate 24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro has filed suit seeking to force Tennessee transportation officials to hand over the winning bidder’s contract and payment records.
COMMENTARY
Tennessee Democrats are running congressional candidates with solid money and high profiles, but lackluster messaging. (Art: Getty Images)
by Bruce Barry
With national midterm momentum seeming to tinge a little bluer with each passing week and each new poll, it’s fun for Volunteer State Democrats to imagine the possibilities for congressional pickups, but while blue team congressional hopefuls are mounting serious bids, the races they are running feel insipid.
ICYMI
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