Early voting has begun in the March 13 special election to replace former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who resigned when he was was tapped by the Trump Administration to serve in the USDA.
Republican Shane Reeves is facing off against Democrat Gale Jordan.
Reeves, a first-time candidate, won the Republican primary in January against former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas). Democrat Jordan, a very far left candidate in a traditionally conservative district, ran unopposed in her party’s primary.
Earlier this year, political watchers were shocked at the outcome of the special election to replace longtime popular State Senator Mae Beavers, who stepped down to focus on her gubernatorial bid. Her friend and ally, State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) ran unopposed in the primary, but low voter turnout resulted in a very narrow victory by Pody over liberal Democrat Mary Alice Carfi by a margin of only 300 votes.
Democrats are hoping that Pody’s close call, combined with the 37 local elections they’ve taken from Republicans in the past year, may be an indicator that the hoped for “Blue Wave” many pundits are predicting for the 2018 Congressional midterms in November will be followed by another surprisingly close election between Reeves and Jordan.
Past voting behavior suggests Reeves is a heavy favorite, but 2018 is turning out to be much different than previous years, but the energy is all with the left and the Democrats, and the average Republican voter in the district may be taking this race for granted.
In the end, it will all come down to turnout.
A complacent Republican electorate, combined with an energized far left Democratic base, is just what Jordan is hoping for.
Generally, hours for early voting are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. Voters may cast their ballots from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday.
The 14th senate district contains portions of Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore and Rutherford Counties.
Here is the list of Early Voting locations:
Rutherford County Early Voting Centers
Rutherford County Election Commission Office
1 Public Square
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday voting hours from 8 am – 12 pm
Sports Com
2310 Memorial Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday voting hours from 8 am – 12 pm
Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors
311 Butler Dr.
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday voting hours from 8 am – 12 pm
Bedford County Early Voting Center
Bedford County Election Commission
1 Public Square, Ste 20, Courthouse Basement
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday early voting hours from 9 a.m. to noon.
Marshall County Early Voting Center
Marshall County Election Commission
230 College Street, Hardison Annex, Suite 120
Lewisburg, TN 37091
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Saturday early voting hours from 8 a.m. to noon.
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church
315 N. Horton Pkwy
Chapel Hill, TN 37034
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 2nd
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 3rd
Lincoln County Early Voting Center
Lincoln County Election Commission
208 Davidson Street East, Room 106
Fayetteville, TN 37334
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday early voting hours from 8 a.m. to noon.
Moore County Early Voting Center
Moore County Election Commission
241 Main Street, Education Building, Suite 201
Lynchburg, TN 37352
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday early voting hours from 9 a.m. to noon.
The “political pundits” miss one very large point. Tennesseans of all persuasions are sick and tired of politicians, Republican AND Democrat, saying one thing and doing another!
Where did all the “Democrats” from 20 years ago go? Did they die, leave the state, or did they just say, “the Democratic party has left me”, and they started voting and running as Republican?
Well, my take is that the Republican Party has abandoned traditional Tennessee values, self reliance, limited government, lower taxes, Christian principles, and now voters are leaving it! They recognize that a “super majority” (aka no competition) is allowing Republicans-in-name-only to act like the true Democrats that they are. The Republican Party had better wake up and start holding their member politicians to the Party platform, or they are gonna lose!