By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
Busy news day today so we’ll cut right to the chase: In our top story, Senior Reporter Anita Wadhwani reports the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is no longer allowing immigrants to the state with work permits and those who came to the U.S. through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, to obtain Tennessee driver’s licenses.
An attorney with the National Immigration Law Center says Tennessee is the only state he is aware of that is denying drivers licenses to DACA recipients “contrary to its own laws.”
And we’ve got coverage of Tuesday night’s 2026 Gubernatorial Debate, sponsored by the Tennessee Press Association — of which the Lookout is a member — and Middle Tennessee State University. All the major candidates but Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who did not respond to multiple invitations, discussed substantive policy issues.
If you missed the forum, you can still watch it here.
In other news:
Ladies night. Blackburn spent Tuesday evening in Hendersonville at a ‘Protect Women’s Sports’ Rally with conservative commentator Clay Travis and former National Basketball Association player Enes Kanter. Kanter made news earlier this year when he challenged the idea of transgender women in the Women’s National Basketball Association, although the WNBA has never had a trans player.
October surprise: On Tuesday, Eli Motycka with the Nashville Scene reported state Sen. Brent Taylor, the Republican nominee for the 9th Congressional District, allegedly sent inappropriate photos. Taylor gave several media interviews in which he addressed what he called “youthful indiscretions.” He was 53 at the time of the alleged incident. The Memphis Flyer has the response from state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, Taylor’s Democratic opponent in the congressional race.
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
The Department of Safety is blocking certain immigrants with valid federal work permits from obtaining drivers licenses, citing legislation enacted in 2025. Anti-immigrant legislation has drawn many protests over the last few years, including one pictured in Nashville in February 2025 . (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Anita Wadhwani
Tennessee is rejecting applications for driver’s licenses from immigrants who are authorized by the federal government to work and live in the United States, a shift in policy that could strip thousands of longtime license-holders of the ability to legally drive, immigrant attorneys and advocates said.
ELECTION 2026
The 2026 Gubernatorial forum with Democratic nominee Jerri Green and independent candidates Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley. Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, did not attend the event on October 27, 2026 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Tennessee Press Association and MTSU sponsored the event. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Adam Friedman
Three of the four major Tennessee gubernatorial candidates appeared at a forum one week before the 2026 election and answered questions on a range of topics, including private school vouchers, data centers and toll lanes.
NEWS AND NOTES
Early voting surges in midterm elections as millions cast their ballots | Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda, States Newsroom
Trump’s DOJ sends 1,000 election monitors to 50 states; locations not yet disclosed | Jonathan Shorman, States Newsroom
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
The transportation group that was selected to build a Tennessee toll road project has upped the amount it will pay the state to build the project. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
The road construction group building Tennessee’s toll lanes along the I-24 southeast corridor is upping the ante, promising to pay the state nearly $148 billion over 50 years to lock in the deal, six times more than initially guaranteed.
ELECTION 2026
A group marched from Edgehill United Methodist Church in Nashville to a early voting site as part of a weekend “Souls to the Polls” voting event. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Liam Adams for Tennessee Lookout
At a Souls to the Polls event in Bordeaux on Saturday, a traditionally Black North Nashville community, Rev. Paula Smith invoked the memory of voting rights activists and their sacrifice 60 years ago. Smith is one of several Black faith leaders pointing to the history of the Civil Rights Movement after the U.S. Supreme Court this year gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
ELECTION 2026
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, photographed at the NRB International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee on Feb. 19, 2026, could be in the running for a U.S. Senate seat. Hegseth moved to Tennessee in 2022.(Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Ruby Rayner for Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann confirmed he is vying to be appointed to the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated if incumbent Marsha Blackburn wins Tuesday’s governor’s race — and said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could also be interested.
ICYMI
Midterm early voter turnout tops 2022 stats by 57% in first 8 days, but lags behind 2018 | Cassandra Stephenson
COMMENTARY
What the town kept and what it couldn’t lend | Kabal Briar
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