Cepicky Warns Hatley Could Help Democrat Jerri Green Surge in Tennessee Governor’s Race

Kaitlin Housler
Scott Cepicky, David Hatley

Tennessee State Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) warned that independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley’s candidacy could help Democrat Jerri Green surge in the governor’s race by siphoning votes from Republican nominee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), arguing that Hatley’s past record makes him unfit to lead the state.

“It always shocks me that somebody comes out of nowhere and wants to run for one of the biggest seats in state government, right? The philosophical leader of our state, with a past like he has,” Cepicky said during Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show.

“Past performance is the expectation of future performance in government. That’s the way I look at it,” Cepicky added. “When you look at it as a whole, does Hatley have a chance to win? The answer’s no. He has no path forward.”

Hatley, who is running as an independent, has faced scrutiny over a federal bank fraud conviction that resulted in prison time and the loss of his voting rights. His voting rights were restored in 2025. He also filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009, according to records cited on a campaign website launched by Blackburn.

Cepicky argued that Hatley’s candidacy could benefit Green by convincing Republican voters dissatisfied with Blackburn to stay home or vote for Hatley instead.

“What Jerri Green is hoping is that he spends enough money and convinces enough people that either I don’t like who the Republican candidate is and I’m gonna stay home, or I’m gonna vote for Hatley, and that’s a vote for Jerri Green,” Cepicky said.

Hatley has now invested $12 million of his own money into the campaign, including a newly reported $5 million infusion, and has spent about $5.1 million so far, according to campaign finance records.

Cepicky also agreed with Leahy’s suggestion that Hatley is trying to appeal to voters who supported former Republican gubernatorial candidate State Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) in the August primary.

Although Cepicky acknowledged that Hatley’s campaign could make the race more competitive, he predicted Blackburn would win.

“It makes it uncomfortable,” Cepicky said of Hatley’s candidacy.

Cepicky also questioned whether Hatley understands the responsibilities of the governor’s office, arguing that his campaign relies more on messaging than governing experience.

“He’s trying to take a small page away from President Trump and the shock and awe of coming out and saying all the right things. But at least if you’re gonna run for the job, understand how the job works,” Cepicky said.

When Leahy said there’s “nothing substantive” to Hatley, Cepicky added, “It’s money and show.”

Watch:

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image “David Hatley” by David Hatley.

 

 

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