News Update

Good afternoon, everyone. Early primary voting will prove to be the first major test of campaign strength in Tennessee’s 2026 elections.... See what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike... Nashville police respond to 6 fatal overdoses in 24 hours... And much more!

Property Tax Calculator Use our handy new tool to see what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike. (Try It Out)

Voting & TN U.S. Congressional District lookup Use your address to find your new congressional district here. Check out The Pamphleteer's quick voting guide.

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Early primary voting will prove to be the first major test of campaign strength in Tennessee’s 2026 elections.

From Megan Podsiedlik

With limited debate activity in many of the state’s highest-profile races, campaigns are shifting focus from television advertising and endorsements to voter turnout operations as we jump headfirst into early voting. Many of the contests are expected to be decided in the primary races due to little competition in the general election, making August 6th turnouts key to victory for many candidates.

So far, 75,000 Tennesseans have cast their ballots, including 48,378 Republicans and 24,520 Democrats, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. Nearly 5,000 people have already voted in Davidson County—only about 1.2 percent of regularly active voters. Here’s what’s going on around the state.

Memphis-based 9th District turns into proxy battle The GOP’s attempt to flip the 9th Congressional District red has grabbed national attention. On Friday, progressive US representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania joined a D-9 Democratic campaign rally in support of state Representative Justin Pearson. More than 1,000 supporters gathered in Memphis for the event that pushed back against the Memphis Safe Task Force, raised concerns over redistricting, and highlighted Pearson’s progressive priorities.

“When I think about where my first political consciousness was formed, it actually didn’t come from a book written by Marx," said Ocasio-Cortez. “It came from watching what happened in Memphis, in Montgomery and Selma and Atlanta.” 

TN-5 Congressional Race: Hatcher vs. Ogles Former Governor Bill Haslam endorsed former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District last week, adding high-profile support to Hatcher’s challenge against incumbent Representative Andy Ogles.

Hatcher, who was appointed agriculture commissioner by Governor Bill Lee, is positioning himself as an establishment alternative to Ogles, who has the backing of President Trump. The race has drawn significant outside funding, with the national PAC Invest in Tomorrow Coalition spending nearly $700,000 in support of Hatcher’s campaign.

Not a peep from Lee As promised, Governor Bill Lee has remained neutral in the 2026 Republican primary that will likely choose his successor by not making an endorsement in the crowded field. He’s also remained noticeably silent on all fronts: Lee hasn’t made a high-profile endorsement since 2025 during the TN-7 special election when he backed Matt Van Epps—a former member of his administration.

Brian Stewart Military Record Controversy The Republican primary for Tennessee House District 45 has been dominated by questions over candidate Brian Stewart’s Marine Corps record. A Washington Examiner report found Marine records listed his 2000 Marine Corps Reserve separation as “under other than honorable conditions” after “failure to participate.” The Marine Corps has since released a statement calling his service “incongruent with Marine Corps standards.” 

Stewart’s opponents include John Gentry, a Marine Corps veteran, and Chris Hughes, an Army veteran, both of whom have criticized Stewart’s handling of his military record and called for greater transparency. Stewart disputes the allegations, saying his service ended due to medical issues and by releasing a DD-214 showing an honorable active-duty discharge, while critics argue the document does not address his reserve separation. The controversy has become a major issue in the race.

*Use your address to find your new congressional district here. Check out The Pamphleteer's quick voting guide.

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✹ PROPERTY TAX CALCULATOR

Use our handy new tool to see what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike. (Try It Out)

Your Nashville Property Tax — What Changed in 2025See how your 2025 Nashville property tax bill was set — from the reappraisal to the certified rate reset to the budget vote — one step at a time. Enter your address. ✰   ✰   ✰

HEADLINES

• 💊 Nashville police respond to 6 fatal overdoses in 24 hours. According to Metro Nashville Police, officers responded to six fatal overdoses across the city within a 24-hour period. Officials say the deaths involved different drugs and occurred in multiple neighborhoods. Authorities are urging residents to assume all drugs are unsafe and are expanding overdose prevention efforts, including distributing naloxone kits. (WSMV)
• ✈️ Mayor makes nomination for airport authority board, proposes refinancing Music City Center. Mayor Freddie O’Connell has nominated former Metro Law Director Wally Dietz to the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board while the board continues its legal fight against the state's attempted takeover. He is also proposing to refinance Music City Center bonds—a move the administration says would improve Metro's finances and free up non-tax revenue for affordable housing and East Bank infrastructure projects. (WSMV)
• 🩺 Belmont’s medical school stumbles during accreditation process. Belmont University’s Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine was placed on preliminary accreditation with probation after a routine review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which identified deficiencies in several administrative and educational standards. University officials say the school remains fully accredited, students can continue their education without interruption, and the issues are being addressed as the school works toward provisional accreditation. (Belmont)

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DEVELOPMENT

Via Now Next: East Bank Bridge Building Operator Acquires 3 New Historic Venues In Nashville (More info)

• ICYMI DC Blox closes on Zoo data center property for $23 million (Tennessean)
• Nuclear facility to bring over 1,100 jobs to East Tennessee (Post)
• Work moves forward on Voodoo Brewing taproom (Post)
• Armory Drive structure listed for $7.25 million (Post)

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✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🎸 Rock Nite @ Skinny Dennis, 8p, Free, Info
+ featuring Multi Ultra, Marble Jets, Sikarus and Trippp

🎹 Daniel Kuk Quartet @ Rudy's Jazz Room, 6p, $12, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Mondays with Fly By Night @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info

🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info

🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

Missiles & Mudslinging🚂 Blackburn backs controversial Defense Appropriations Act; Rose votes against House version · DC Blox closes on property near Nashville Zoo · All aboard the Chattanooga Choo Choo · Much more!The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer Who’s Running for What🗳 Early voting starts tomorrow · Join us for tonight’s Pamphleteer event: New American Frontiers · Marsha, Marsha, Marsha · Much more!The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer Nashville Bus Police🚌 WeGo is one step closer to getting its own police presence · Still no Riverfront safety upgrades after Riley Strain’s death · TN officials actively recruiting Paramount · Much more!The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer Running on Vibe$🚌 CHYM sales tax pays for 20 percent of WeGo rides · NC5 cancels GOP gubernatorial debate after Blackburn then Rose opt out · O’Connell claims attorney-client privilege over nonprofit payments · Much more!The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.