MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Republicans across Tennessee are smiling broadly today, convinced that their hold on the state’s two U.S. Senate seats is still in the bag. Party leaders gathered in Franklin over the weekend to celebrate Bill Hagerty becoming the GOP nominee to replace retiring senator Lamar Alexander, and to assure to their voters that the party is unified after a bruising primary campaign.
Hagerty will now face upstart Democrat Marquita Bradshaw of Memphis in the November general election. Bradshaw pulled a surprising upset over Nashville lawyer James Mackler in last week’s Democratic primary. But she faces a monumental task against Hagerty who is well financed, and enjoys a decided advantage in the number of Republican voters versus Democrats statewide.
If Hagerty does win in November, it will mark a major change in political philosophy among Tennessee Senators. This is a state that has benefited from moderate voices in both parties serving us in Washington. Going back to Howard Baker and Albert Gore Sr., our senators have mostly been middle of the road politically. Even Alexander and recently retired Bob Corker at times spoke against the current president.
But with Senator Marsha Blackburn and probably Hagerty, our Senators would represent the extreme right wing of their party – with no independence whatsoever from the President.
A lot can happen between now and November. But barring a miracle, the days of moderate Tennessee Senators have come and gone. And that’s my point of view.