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By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning, Lookout readers:

With less than two weeks before the November midterm elections, reporter Cassandra Stephenson spent some time with congressional candidates’ financial disclosures.

Specifically, she reviewed the third quarter Federal Election Commission disclosures filed by the candidates in Congressional Districts 5, 8 and 9 — the three districts that contain portions of Memphis and that were redrawn in a May special legislative session.

Money is pouring in to candidates in Districts 5 and 9, both of which have drawn national attention: the Democratic National Campaign Committee has placed District 5 nominee, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, and District 9 Democratic nominee, Rep. Justin J. Pearson, on the organization’s “Red to Blue” program, designed to flip U.S. House Districts.

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump has endorsed former state agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher, running in District 5, and District 9 nominee, Sen. Brent Taylor.

In other news:

  • That didn’t last long. A federal judge ruled Tuesday the Memphis City Council cannot ban Pearson from council meetings. Pearson and six other plaintiffs filed suit against the council last week after they were banned from two meetings. The Memphis Flyer reports.

THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY

U.S. Congressional District 9 candidates Justin J. Pearson (D) and Brent Taylor (R); District 5 candidates Charlie Hatcher (R) and Chaz Molder (D); and District 8 candidates Heidi Kuhn (D) and David Kustoff (R). (Pearson, Taylor, Hatcher and Molder photos by John Partipilo for Tennessee Lookout; Kuhn photo courtesy of kuhnforcongress.com; Kustoff photo courtesy of kustoff.house.gov)

Congressional candidates for Shelby County districts raise combined $4.6M in 90 days

by Cassandra Stephenson

Candidates for Tennessee’s three newly drawn congressional seats that represent parts of Shelby County raised a combined $4.6 million in the 90 days leading up to October, campaign finance records show.

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A crowd in a Cordell Hull Legislative Building committee room expresses displeasure with Gov. Bill Lee’s 2024 school voucher plan. A three-judge panel ruled in October 2026 the voucher plan doesn’t violate Tennessee’s constitution. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee judicial panel dismisses private-school voucher lawsuit

by Sam Stockard

A three-judge panel dismissed a case filed in 2025 by a group of parents who said Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act violates the constitution by shifting funds to unaccountable private schools that discriminate against students.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $8 billion in temporary aid to farmers, President Donald Trump announced on Oct. 19, 2026. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Trump announces $8B fuel relief program for farmers, but timeline and payment details are hazy

by Cassandra Stephenson

President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $8 billion in one-time payments to American farmers to help offset “temporary market disruptions” and high fuel costs.

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Dan Kuebler walks along a path on Aug. 13, 2026, in Ashland, Mo. He recently put an easement on his land to protect it from development. (Kate Cassady/Missouri News Network)

by Jana Rose Schleis, Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk

American Farmland Trust’s analysis shows rural housing development is especially high in Tennessee, where 148,000 acres of agricultural land was converted to urban and highly developed land use between 2001 and 2016. But placing development restrictions on a piece of land could reduce its value.

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ICYMI
ICYMI

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