The Primary Fortune Cookie

With limited debate activity in many of the state’s highest-profile races, campaigns are shifting focus from television advertising and endorsements to voter turnout operations as we jump headfirst into early voting. Many of the contests are expected to be decided in the primary races due to little competition in the general election, making August 6th turnouts key to victory for many candidates.

So far, 75,000 Tennesseans have cast their ballots, including 48,378 Republicans and 24,520 Democrats, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. Nearly 5,000 people have already voted in Davidson County—only about 1.2 percent of regularly active voters. Here’s what’s going on around the state.

Memphis-based 9th District turns into proxy battle

The GOP’s attempt to flip the 9th Congressional District red has grabbed national attention. On Friday, progressive US representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania joined a D-9 Democratic campaign rally in support of state Representative Justin Pearson. More than 1,000 supporters gathered in Memphis for the event that pushed back against the Memphis Safe Task Force, raised concerns over redistricting, and highlighted Pearson’s progressive priorities.

“When I think about where my first political consciousness was formed, it actually didn’t come from a book written by Marx," said Ocasio-Cortez. “It came from watching what happened in Memphis, in Montgomery and Selma and Atlanta.”

TN-5 Congressional Race: Hatcher vs. Ogles

Former Governor Bill Haslam endorsed former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District last week, adding high-profile support to Hatcher’s challenge against incumbent Representative Andy Ogles.

Hatcher, who was appointed agriculture commissioner by Governor Bill Lee, is positioning himself as an establishment alternative to Ogles, who has the backing of President Trump. The race has drawn significant outside funding, with the national PAC Invest in Tomorrow Coalition spending nearly $700,000 in support of Hatcher’s campaign.

Not a peep from Lee

As promised, Governor Bill Lee has remained neutral in the 2026 Republican primary that will likely choose his successor by not making an endorsement in the crowded field. He’s also remained noticeably silent on all fronts: Lee hasn’t made a high-profile endorsement since 2025 during the TN-7 special election when he backed Matt Van Epps—a former member of his administration.

Brian Stewart Military Record Controversy

The Republican primary for Tennessee House District 45 has been dominated by questions over candidate Brian Stewart’s Marine Corps record. A Washington Examiner report found Marine records listed his 2000 Marine Corps Reserve separation as “under other than honorable conditions” after “failure to participate.” The Marine Corps has since released a statement calling his service “incongruent with Marine Corps standards.”

Stewart’s opponents include John Gentry, a Marine Corps veteran, and Chris Hughes, an Army veteran, both of whom have criticized Stewart’s handling of his military record and called for greater transparency. Stewart disputes the allegations, saying his service ended due to medical issues and by releasing a DD-214 showing an honorable active-duty discharge, while critics argue the document does not address his reserve separation. The controversy has become a major issue in the race.

*Use your address to find your new congressional district here. Check out The Pamphleteer's quick voting guide.