TN Republicans pushing to mix up election laws to prevent dual campaigns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — When Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) was nearly expelled last year, she used the momentum to launch a campaign for the United States Senate while also running for re-election in her Tennessee House seat.

“It is in the law, it’s been done before,” Johnson said. “People have been on the ballot for two times.”

But Republicans are pushing a new bill to outlaw dual-campaigns in the state.

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“It’s time that we prevented people from running for two offices or three offices at once,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said.

But the move could have some unintended consequences, as Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge) has been on East Ridge City Council since 2016 and currently serves as Vice-Mayor.

Though she said her situation is a little different than Johnson’s.

“I think the only similarity is that her name is going to be on the ballot twice, like mine,” Helton-Haynes said. “I think the difference is that I ran with the intention of winning and serving in both, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Democrats chastised the move as a clear hit back against Johnson, as several lawmakers have run for two offices in the past. Most recently, Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville) ran for a Congressional seat and his current Tennessee House seat a few years ago.

He lost the primary to a slew of other candidates, including current Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-Tennessee).

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Hawk ultimately ended up retaining his Tennessee House seat, as he ran unopposed.

“It’s really interesting when it comes to me doing it, it’s a problem,” Johnson said.

But Republicans pushed back on that.

“I think the issue really came up before she announced,” McNally said.

“I don’t think it’s directed at any individual,” Senate Republican Caucus Chair Ken Yager (R-Kingston) agreed. “I’ve never heard that mentioned in any conversations that I’ve had with Senator Briggs.”

Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) sponsored the bill.

Of course, Democrats laughed off the notion that the bill has nothing to do with Johnson’s Senate bid, and they left Republicans with one parting shot.

“Why are they so scared of you, Gloria?” House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said, sarcastically, to reporters.

“Bless their hearts,” Johnson said. “Bless their hearts, it wasn’t about me huh?”

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She went on to say, “These men are so easily triggered. They are so emotional, and I think that they are too emotional to govern.”

Notably, the bill could also affect Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee). Should she want to run as former President Donald Trump’s vice president, she would have to give up her re-election bid for the Senate, should this bill pass.

“If Gloria Johnson truly believes she will win the Democratic primary and General Election in November, why is she running for both seats?” Blackburn Campaign Manager Abigail Sigler wrote in an email.

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