Battle for the newly drawn 9th district seat is wide open - Nashville in Focus

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:01]You're watching Fox 17 News Nashville in focus.

[00:00:10]Happy Sunday morning everybody. I'm Scott Couch. Welcome to the show. I've got two Democrats, two Republicans, and I don't know when we're going to run out of really heavy topics to talk about, but it's not going to be this week. Let me introduce our guest, and we will weigh in to our topics. Steve Gil back with us who is a local attorney, also publisher of Tristar Daily, a conservative website in addition to a television radio host and he's known me for 30 plus years. So there's that. Uh Jasper Hendricks, Democratic strategist and also the chair of the Nashville Fair Board. Glad to have you back, sir. Trace Whittam right across the hall is a former Tennessee GOP Senate aid and also a former US Senate candidate. Trace, nice to have you back on the show with us, sir. And Tucker Kins, political strategist, former Tennessee Democratic Senate aid. Did you guys work at the legislature at the same time?

[00:00:56]>> We did. I was thinking I >> those committee assignments.

[00:01:00]>> I came I came to know you each independently, but I was when I had you both on there, I thought I wonder if they worked at the legislature at the same time.

[00:01:06]>> We just do the whole stories of of back stories with these. That's what's going to happen during the commercial breaks and it'll probably be more interesting than what we're going to talk about today. Guys, of course, the the elephant in the room is a little bit surprising.

[00:01:19]early part of the week, House Speaker declaring uh that all the Democrats on the House committees and subcommittees are being removed over the I guess actions of some of the Democrats during the special session that uh resulted in new district maps. Jasper, I'll start over on the Democratic side. Were you surprised when you learned about this or had you some inkling that this might be coming? No, we were surprised that it it it went to this level that he that the speaker um was willing to carry this on, you know, it's it's almost like a a schoolyard uh fight, you know, and um where, you know, someone just won't, you know, will not stop until they actually going to get what's coming to them. And so, you keep poking the bear, the bear is going to wake up and you know, you're going to get you, you know, you better be ready for what's going to come next.

[00:02:09]And so um and so but what we see because what we've seen here is um what I think the younger generation would call you know you fir out you know and um we're matching energy um because the only reason why these uh that the Democrats took the tactics that they did was because that the supermajority continues to abuse their power and they shut down debate, you know, and so for Senator Blackburn to come in you know, and say, "Yes, she's condemning these actions because Democrats, you know, create chaos and need to learn how to debate."

[00:02:45]The Republicans do not allow debate, you know, every time, you know, and so, uh, and especially over, uh, you know, um, tough issues, you know, and so you see that in committee and there's tape available. That's one thing about this generation, this new age is that, you know, there is evidence and so you can go back and watch the uh, the hearings.

[00:03:06]you can go back and watch the floor proceedings and you know and and and watch how they continue over and over abusing their power and ending debate because they have the numbers and so and the only way to change that is that we have to change who's inside that building.

[00:03:20]>> Now Jasper indicated uh that I guess the Democratic feeling is that you know we're now matching the energy. Do you think this is going to get people to the polls because nothing else has lately?

[00:03:30]>> You know I'm not sure. I think we did need to show that we needed to meet the moment. This is extraordinary. it is uh out of the norm. It is generally just following in Donald Trump's uh like whatever he says goes. So, they did need to do something special and something different and sort of match the energy of not only the Republicans but of Democratic voters and show we're just as mad as they are. Also, kicking them off committees, the committees aren't going to meet again. So, what is the point of that? It is purely symbolic. It is purely political and that feels right up Cameron Sexon alley so far.

[00:03:58]>> Well, my question is Steve, is this going to continue when the new session begins in January? This could be something that the speaker and Republican leadership say continuing.

[00:04:08]>> I think that remains to be seen. We're going to have an election between now and then. So, you're going to have everybody there is going to have been either elected or reelected between now and and and the session. So, there's no reason to to go back to what was done before. I would disagree with Jasper.

[00:04:21]When you poke the Bayer, the ones poking the bearer were the Democrat activists on the floor who were lighting fires, firing off noise makers.

[00:04:28]>> No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't.

[00:04:29]>> Did you see Justin Jones lighting the fire in the >> No, it wasn't. It wasn't in the chamber.

[00:04:33]It wasn't in the chamber.

[00:04:34]>> That wasn't The horn was uh >> The horn was right in the face of the speaker and he was >> It wasn't It wasn't in the face of the speaker. The speaker was on the day.

[00:04:41]Bottom >> line is they clearly broke the rules of the house. That's why >> And after the Republicans keep breaking the rules and that's after and it was after the Republicans keep breaking rules during the whole week of the special session, we kept seeing time and time again where things kept changing in the matter of seconds. They were adjusting the rules. Matter of fact, the special matter matter of fact, the special session was called to to break the law to allow to break the law.

[00:05:04]>> Let me get to the whole the whole special session. The whole special session was about break.

[00:05:10]>> Let me add what's interesting and I think we have to remember this and this isn't explained much in the media with all due respect of how it works and a majority is the majority rules. Hold on.

[00:05:19]And all in favor say I. Rules change instantly. And so what you're seeing is energy matching energy. You're right. If if you're going to keep doing protest politics and keep using symbolism, uh, hey, listen, everybody knows I'm tough on Republican leadership, but Cameron Ston did a fantastic job showing matching energy and and symbolism. Come on, time out. Childish behavior.

[00:05:40]Wait a minute.

[00:05:43]>> One of the things I like about this show is we let each other talk >> and and nobody's learning the fact of the Republicans technically don't need you. And so Cameron section just said, "If you're going to be disruptive and stop things that are progressing in Tennessee the right way, >> we're not going to even invite you unless you have to be there." All in favor say I. I. And if you watch the videos afterwards, nobody wants all this obnoxious, hateful racism that your party started.

[00:06:07]>> I've got 30 seconds.

[00:06:08]>> Absolutely not. Absolutely not. we get I as a member when I go to my office and especially after this whole session I have nothing but hate emails and voicemail messages on my phone on my in my emails you know and they're saying and they are saying horrible and they're saying horrible things they're saying horrible things right here you're watching Nashville in focus on Fox 17 >> you're watching Fox 17 News Nashville in focus.

[00:06:45]>> All right, the new lines have been drawn. We've established that. On Friday at noon was the deadline for candidates to qualify in these new districts. Let's run over quickly who's in, who's out.

[00:06:55]Megan Barry pulled papers to run, but decided not to. Councilman Jacob Coopin in Nashville did the same. Darden Copeland is in and staying in.

[00:07:02]Representative Vincent Dixie running for Congress. Senator London Lamar in the newly drawn ninth. And let's see, Todd Warner picked up papers. He's running in the ninth along with Senator Brent Taylor who's being endorsed by I guess Blackburn Hagerty and 28 other people.

[00:07:18]So, he's got a lot of endorsements. Mike Cortez, the councilman who was running against Andy Yogles on the Democratic ticket against Chaz Moulder in Columbia, is now running in the fourth. Moulder, who no longer lives in the fifth, is staying in the fifth district race. And Charlie Hatcher, who no longer lives in the fifth, as I understand it, Steve, I think I'm right on that. Um, he's also running in the fifth. Is anybody else going to drop out? And darn, we'll start over here. You really plugged into who's in, who's out. Did I miss anybody?

[00:07:44]>> I think you got everybody.

[00:07:46]>> I didn't Did I mention London Lamar?

[00:07:47]>> You did mention London Lamar.

[00:07:48]>> I had I mentioned so many people I couldn't remember.

[00:07:50]>> Yeah, the new night that goes all the way from Shelby County over to Williamson County. That's right. They're going to get real familiar with Franklin. It's going to be great. You know, they totally belong there.

[00:07:58]>> A little bit like Marsha Blackburn's old district back in the day.

[00:08:01]>> Yeah, way back in the day. True. But that was that one was voted on by a Republican plurality when Democrats controlled the legislature and it was like 91 to7 or something like that.

[00:08:10]>> Remember that district two as I recall?

[00:08:12]>> Yeah. Fought over on a normal redistricting timeline. A little bit different back then.

[00:08:16]>> One thing I think we have to remember is these are congressional districts and and they're made by a number of people.

[00:08:21]So you kind of get when you put these things together, uh there are certain things that have to have to kind of match and you kind of it's almost like putting together a puzzle. So, let me tell you, you can be at the front the the the top of the state line up towards Kentucky and you can be in down Alabama at a GOP dinner the next day across the line from Alabama. Excuse me. I mean, you can be out west. That's just how the congressional districts work. Uh, I think what you're concerned about is there are no Democrats who live in these places. But hey, welcome to Tennessee.

[00:08:46]There's no Democrats in Tennessee except some of these places. And look, and here's the thing. They're quickly realizing Ask ask the guy running for mayor down in Shelby County. Okay? He he left your party, too. Wants nothing to do with it.

[00:08:57]They're joining the Republican ticket because we have the best candidates. We have the best solution. And we've been turning Tennessee around for at least 16 years.

[00:09:03]>> Steve Cohen got out. They did essentially the same thing that they did to Nashville. And Steve Cohen essentially made the same decision that Jim Cooper did a few years back.

[00:09:10]>> I'm not surprised.

[00:09:11]>> Well, and you mentioned that you've got several of these candidates who are not technically living within the boundaries of the new drawn district. But if you're in the same county that splits a couple, whether it's in Shelby, whether it's in Williamson County, Murray County, you can run in that county even if you're not on the on the side of the line.

[00:09:26]That's that's for state races, but for Congress, the federal law says you do not have to live in the district >> when you run. When you run, >> so you don't it doesn't matter county, you just you can be a >> reset bagger if you live in the county [clears throat] just across the line.

[00:09:41]>> Now, do you you seem to think and we talked about this off camera. I just wanted to mention it. You think London Lamar could give Justin Pearson, who was already in the the ninth district race, a run for his money for the Democratic nomination? Well, he was in the ninth congressional district race, which looked different than >> Yes, but he was already congressional announced. She just got in, >> but not to those people, not to these people that are now in the district, you know, and >> is this district better represent I guess Lamar, >> but she her entire Senate district is in this comm is in this district. I see.

[00:10:12]And so her I mean her Senate district is in this uh congressional district >> and she's wellliked over >> and so she is very wellliked. She's also been able to get legislation passed.

[00:10:20]>> Yes. you know, she's been able to work with, you know, and so and that's something that, >> you know, bipartisan legislation, you know, it has to be bipartisan, you know, if you get something to pass here. So, it's just um, you know, but she's actually getting some bills passed.

[00:10:34]>> Right. Right. Yeah. And so, you know, so I think she's going to use that to her advant her advantage. um early in the in um in the week, you know, last week she was um on a call with Vice President Harris that she, you know, um you know, um so she's in she has a national, you know, reach and she has national um friends that can help raise money, you know, um and stuff and so and she's been a senator and you know, she's also been a state rep for a while.

[00:10:56]>> I think a lot of people just thought this is Justin Pearsons to lose, but you're you're suggesting that she is poised to perhaps take this nomination.

[00:11:04]>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, she could she could it's going to be an interesting campaign. as well.

[00:11:08]>> Well, as Jasper mentioned, money matters and and you've got you had Steve Cohen had about $2 million, but that was not going to be enough, I think, to to push aside Pearson. Um, I think London can can raise money and and I think that's going to be significant. You've got >> Cohen donate that money. He could he favors her, too.

[00:11:25]>> He could. And he was he's he would endorse her cuz she endorsed him. She was one of the first people out endorsing endorsed him. I think you're going to see, you know, it it's >> so that could be that could solve her need to because she doesn't have time to raise money. You've got to have money.

[00:11:39]>> And Moulder has $2 million, but he's waiting till till November. Um he has a huge war chest waiting. Um that district, which is Andy Ogle's changed greatly geographically in Andy Ogle's favor. Went from about plus 8 to about plus 14. Yes. But he still has the economic disadvantage that he can't overcome in the next, you know, three years.

[00:11:58]>> He's got 80,000 or so. when Chaz Moulder has 1.8 million the last district, but he's got the money.

[00:12:04]>> Thanks for getting Charlie Hatcher to be honest with you.

[00:12:06]>> Well, I was going to say wait still in the race. Yes.

[00:12:08]>> The power of the incumbency. Andy may not have a huge campaign war chest, but when you're have the ability to be on cable television regularly, the Trump endorsements as we're talking about with the Blackburn campaign. It was kind of one of those things. How do you get money? It's a new way of raising money in 2026. Uh you have Americans for Prosperity and you have Turning Point USA that are basically throwing events for candidates so they don't have to raise as much money. Uh, so the whole game's changing. So I don't necessarily know. Yes, the money matters clearly. I can tell you that from experience, >> but if you don't have it, some people can donate.

[00:12:35]>> And the best way is the Anytime Teller machine. And you got Brent Taylor who's already put a million dollars of his own money combined with the Hagerty and Tim Burchett and Marshia Black 30 other legislators. So he's got a big lead in that ninth district. So much to talk about. I've got to squeeze in a break and we will continue the conversation right after this. You're watching Nashville in Focus on Fox 17.

[00:13:09]You're watching Fox 17 News Nashville in focus.

[00:13:18]>> When district lines get redrawn so late in the game, it is inevitable that there will be a legal challenge. I think there are at least three I can think of off the top of my head. Steve, my question to you as the attorney on the panel, a federal judge already said, "I'm not going to hit the pause button. We're going to let this play out." Can it play out in any scenario where this election doesn't happen? I don't think so. And and I'll have to admit, I was frankly surprised that it got past the district trial judge level with Judge Campbell without it being stopped and then having to go to the court of appeals and then on up the ladder. I was a little surprised that he struck it down so quickly. Uh but I think part of this is recognizing the clock is ticking. if we're going to move forward based upon the Supreme Court opinion, based upon the other court opinions we've seen. Uh, Judge Campbell was appointed by a Democrat president, but he did the right thing here and I think that's why you're going to see this move forward.

[00:14:03]>> J, what do you see the Democrats doing?

[00:14:04]They filed one of the lawsuits, you know, against, you know, this this redistricting effort.

[00:14:09]>> Was the point about Trump? Um, >> oh, was he? Yeah, >> he's been there for a while. Um but uh >> uh I think you're going to see I mean we see these lawsuits you know we're preparing for November >> preparing to run the race not preparing for this the map to be stopped >> right what whatever is going to happen we're going to be prepared for so we're you know we've seen over the course of the last couple of weeks you know a lot of people organizing that hadn't organized before together and I think you're going to you know so I think that you're going to see um that uh Democratic coalitions and Democratic aligned um uh coalitions will um be organizing um you know you know as never seen before.

[00:14:51]>> To your point, this is exciting because people are I mean they have to run. You can't Oh, they know me in all those places. No, they don't. Brent Taylor, for instance, he's got to introduce himself to a lot of people.

[00:15:01]>> I think that's why you really see a lot of the candidates, especially as a Republicans in a sense, they're kind of running together, right? We got Congressman Burchett kind of opening for Marshia Blackburn with uh Mayor Jacobs out of Knoxville doing the opening opening act.

[00:15:12]>> I think Tim would like to be a US senator.

[00:15:14]>> Probably probably uh I got 43,000 votes, but I'll take that. Good for Tim.

[00:15:19]>> You'd like to be US senator?

[00:15:20]>> Of course, we all would. But I think but that's the point is in a supermajority with a lot of leadership, it's going to be determined in a lot of different ways. And and in in some sense, yeah, we have the primary, but it's kind of like caucusing in a sense. You're getting familiar with new faces. You're putting people out there. you're showing their leadership resumes and Republicans have done a lot. There's a lot to go around.

[00:15:39]Uh and once we figure these primaries out, let's talk about different counties uh and city races. Um but but clearly we're ready to go. You talk about the results in November. We're ready for the results in November, too.

[00:15:49]>> Can the Democrats win some of these seats? Because I know Jasper has mentioned on the show that that while it was drawn for Republicans to win, Democrats could get some people to the polls if others don't and they might the Republicans might be surprised at what happens.

[00:16:02]>> Right. I think that's right. you know, so what they call it is a dummy mander when you uh draw it like this and you make more seats competitive than you previously had. I think that could happen over time pendulum swing of course, but you know, there was a lot of >> You're not saying immediately >> there was a lot of red to go around. I think I don't mean to be pessimistic, but I'm not sure this time. I'm really glad we have great candidates and I think that these things happen cycle by cycle with great candidates after great candidates. Maybe it happens this time.

[00:16:25]There are a few people with great shots.

[00:16:26]I mean like it's your best on worst and uh Ogals versus Moulder over there, you know, but um I think that's our best chance. But um I think overtime is when we'll realize a dummy.

[00:16:37]>> I appreciate an honest answer instead of a, you know, a partisan answer. I I will say >> and the Democrats are pointing to the 2018 races to say, "Oh, some of these congressional districts are a little bit closer." But keep in mind, 2018, Marshall was running against a wellunded Democrat in Phil Bredesen, beat him by double digits. Carl Dean got beat by double digits by Bill Lee. So that was the best with topline candidates. There are no top of the ticket candidates in Democrat.

[00:17:02]>> We got to squeeze in a break here and we'll be right back. You're watching Nashville and Focus on Fox 17.

[00:17:16]>> You're watching Fox 17 News Nashville in focus.

[00:17:22]>> [music] >> I'm hoping to hit a couple of topics in the last segment. One, Metro's legal director, Wally Deetsz, is on his way out. He's going to retire, who was tapped to replace him. Uh Tyler Yarro, the wife of State Senator Jeff Yarro. Uh you mentioned you'd talk to some council people about her.

[00:17:39]>> Yeah, the people on the council are really excited about the new legal director. I hear that she is brilliant and a fighter as well. Uh, Wally Deetsz was six and0 against the Trump administration in lawsuits against the federal government and I think she is an exceptional candidate to continue the winning streak.

[00:17:53]>> Anybody else want to weigh in on that before we move on to the governor's race?

[00:17:56]>> Good lawyer, good reputation.

[00:17:57]>> All right, anybody else? All right, let's move on to the governor's race.

[00:18:00]I've seen some of John Rose's ads running. Uh, and we talked about his ad last week. I have not seen Marshia Blackburn ads. Have you all yet?

[00:18:08]>> Yes, on Fox News every day.

[00:18:10]>> Okay.

[00:18:11]>> 30 seconds.

[00:18:12]>> And they're on topic. They're on topic.

[00:18:14]She does not have to pay her.

[00:18:16]>> Senator Blackburn, uh, you know, she has been, you know, fig figurative fig figuratively speaking, she is the best at waving the pom pom. She has the red flags. Uh, she's clearly been leading the conversations. I mean, saving her money.

[00:18:28]>> She quickly mentioned uh, well, because she's doing things like this, she quickly mentioned that there was an opportunity to redistrict. It was the right thing to do. She has the relationships and the endorsements in the legislature and it's time to move. I think what that signaled was I'm moving a legislature. I'm in control. Whether you're running ads or not, there's just perception and perception is reality in a lot of ways. And what we saw was historic and here Senator Blackburn is leading the charge.

[00:18:50]>> Did John miss an opportunity by not says maybe calling for that first because I think we all knew it was coming.

[00:18:56]>> I mean, it was like a half second gap between her calling it and him. I think the bigger question is he has held back, >> you know, a lot of money. He he put 5 million in initially. He has not spent much until now. I think it's late. He's got to close a big gap. She started with, you know, about 98% name ID. His was probably 10 or 15%. He He's got to close that name ID. At the same time, bring her down. That's a heavy lift.

[00:19:20]>> What were you going to say, sir?

[00:19:21]>> I was going to say I mean, he needed to do this for name ID. She doesn't need it just yet, you know, because she's so far ahead in the polls. Now, I will say they know her name.

[00:19:28]>> They know people know her name, but um but I will say that I think we're talking about, you know, what happened in with the redistricting as if it's only happened here in Tennessee. It is a coordinated effort. You know, it is a coordinated effort across No, no, no, no. Uh, uh, no, we're talking about Georgia, >> you know, Louisiana. All happening right now, like not the ones, right? Yeah. So, I'm not talking about California. What happened before this is happening right now. So, you have Louisiana went in, you know, redistricted um South Carolina, you know, South. No, it didn't. It failed in the Senate. They're getting ready. And so, um, it, uh, and so Georgia has a special session on June 17.

[00:20:06]>> Didn't Mississippi decide? um Mississippi decided not to do it, but it's a coordinated My point is it's a coordinated effort across the South. And so what you're going to see is not just the energy of of the people here in Tennessee, you're going to see a coordinated effort across the South of people galvanizing and energizing. And so, you know, Marsha Blackburn, and a lot of people remember that the reason why Marshia Blackburn became Senator Marshia Blackburn is because of her efforts around the income tax, you know, and so and that left a a nasty and what I've seen, you know, from uh some of the responses of the people in our caucus, they are fired up. They are not going to allow that to happen again.

[00:20:40]>> That lack of income tax is why so many businesses and people have moved to >> businesses that only last for a year.

[00:20:45]Small business small business have lasted for a year and we have they're not able to keep up with their commitments and their job. Well, >> sure. If it's about the governor's race in the primary there, I worked in polling for a long time, but I don't think you need to do that to recognize that a really consistent 50 plus point gap is not going to be made up by kind of conventional campaigning. She's going to need to step on a pretty large rake to make any sort of dent in her lead. I think >> does he have to lob bombs at her? And will he do that? you know, if he's in it to win, I guess you have to once it comes down the stretch.

[00:21:16]>> I just don't know if that's his personal, you know, interest or style. I don't think so either.

[00:21:19]>> I want to go back and just say I think a lot of this at this point is going to be imaging who is running the state of Tennessee, [clears throat] who has the leadership role, and until you change the narrative, Senator Blackburn has that.

[00:21:31]>> It's interesting. And to Steve's point, uh, whatever is going to happen has got to start happening if if John's going to make some inroads. We are out of time.

[00:21:38]The show's gone so quickly. I so appreciate you guys being a guest. Thank you all for watching. We will be back next week here on Nashville and Focus.