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Wednesday, November 4, 2026Nov 4

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Tennessee senator taking heat for saying State of the State protesters were paid

Sen. Paul Bailey
Sen. Paul Bailey Sen. Paul Bailey

A Republican state senator is catching some grief for alleging that “several” protesters present for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s State of the State speech on Monday were paid to be there.

On Monday, Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, turned to social media to make the allegation that “several of the protesters admitted” to having been paid to be at the capitol.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the House chamber as they chanted about President Donald Trump, Insure Tennessee, Black Lives Matter and women’s health.

Read more at our news partner’s website, tennessean.com.