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Poll shows just over one week from Nashville mayoral race, O’Connell leads pack

Nashville mayoral candidates from left Jeff Yarbro, Freddie OConnell and Matt Wiltshire sit backstage before a June 15 forum at Nashville Childrens Theatre. / Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo
Nashville mayoral candidates from left Jeff Yarbro, Freddie OConnell and Matt Wiltshire sit backstage before a June 15 forum at Nashville Childrens Theatre. / Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo Nashville mayoral candidates from left Jeff Yarbro, Freddie OConnell and Matt Wiltshire sit backstage before a June 15 forum at Nashville Childrens Theatre. / Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo

By Holly McCall / Tennessee Lookout 2 min read

The first poll in the Nashville mayor’s race since businessman Jim Gingrich suspended his campaign on July 17 shows Metro Councilmember Freddie O’Connell leading the field.

The poll was conducted by Washington-based GBAO Strategies on behalf of the Tennessee Laborers PAC July 17-19 and surveyed 500 local voters. GBAO conducted polls for the laborers before the 2015 and 2019 mayoral election.

(READ MORE: Nashville Mayor John Cooper declines second run for top city office)

O’Connell is polling at 21% with just over a week remaining before the Aug. 3 election, while conservative Alice Rolli and state Sen. Jeff Yarbro are in a dead heat at 13% and 12% respectively.

The poll showed former Nashville official Matt Wiltshire at 10%, and the remaining 11 candidates — including early favorite Sen. Heidi Campbell — posting single digits.