The FiveThirtyEight opinion poll analysis website gives Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee a 99 in 100 chance of being re-elected on Nov. 8. The Cook Political Report puts U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's 3rd District House race in the "Solid Republican" category.
State Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hixson, has won seven elections (primary and general) to three offices with the help of basically the same voters who will determine whether he will be elected to a full term in the state House. State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, has an independent opponent on the ballot in her bid for a fifth term, but that opponent suspended his campaign against her on Aug. 1.
The other members of the Hamilton County legislative delegation, state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, state Rep. Greg Vital, R-Georgetown, and state Rep. Esther Helton, R-East Ridge, are unopposed.
Tennessee lacks a U.S. Senate race and any of the implications of Senate races in other states that could determine the balance of power in the Washington, D.C., body.
The above realities give voters plenty of reasons not to vote in Hamilton County, but we hope they'll overlook them and go to the polls anyway, as we believe they should no matter what the ballot looks like.
The four constitutional amendments, for instance, as we have detailed, add interest to the vote. And we subscribe to the theory that voting at least gives constituents buy-in if the candidates of their choice win (or legitimate room to complain if they don't).
With that in mind, the Chattanooga Free Press editorial page endorses:
› For governor, Bill Lee: In his first four years in office, Lee cut taxes on small businesses, passed one of the strongest pro-life laws in the country, reformed the 30-year-old public schools funding system to be more student-centered, expanded maternal health and postpartum coverage for TennCare recipients, raised teacher pay and removed loopholes to be sure teachers received the intended raises, reformed the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and established a $100 million crime intervention program.
His term also coincided with the global coronavirus pandemic, and the Republican pushed to have the state be a leader in early testing for the virus, re-open its economy quicker than most states and thus experience much less of an economic downturn than other states.
With Tennessee today boasting of one of the lowest unemployment rates in its history and in a financial position that is the envy of most states, voters shouldn't think twice about re-electing Lee.
› For U.S. House, Chuck Fleischmann: We have said in this space that we wish Fleischmann were more responsive to the public (and us), that he would debate his opponent (even though he has more to lose) and that he were more outspoken on all issues, but he has been in the minority party for the last four years.
Nevertheless, we can be thankful that the Republican's votes in the last two years did not go to the plans of Democrats, who have plunged the nation into its highest inflation in 40 years, a near (if not actual) recession, its highest gasoline prices in history, a marked drop in take-home pay and a reduction in family values.
We hope with the expected Republican takeover of the House that Fleischmann will begin to assert himself and help lead an American resurgence in both the economy and moral culture.
› For state House (District 26), Greg Martin: Many voters in his district know Martin already has served on the Hamilton County Board of Education and currently serves on the Hamilton County Commission, so he brings experience in educational issues and general governance to his slot in the legislature, to which he was appointed last spring.
As a supporter of pro-life issues, Second Amendment rights and low taxes, the Republican stands with the majority of those in his legislative district. We believe he also can be counted on in the state House to vote for improvements in public safety, to be pro-business and to work against the continued spread of opioids.
We believe Martin's experience fits in well with the Hamilton County legislative delegation and that he'll help craft thoughtful laws for his constituents here and across the state.
› For state House (District 27), Patsy Hazlewood: As noted above, Hazlewood's independent opponent, Michael H. Potter, withdrew from campaigning on Aug. 1, but his name remains on the ballot. His withdrawal gives her an easier route to re-election, but her experience is her most valuable asset.
After a career in business, including as a regional vice president for AT&T and regional director for the state Department of Economic and Community Development, she has risen quickly in the legislature -- and not surprisingly -- to become chair of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. In the position, she worked with Lee and other legislators to help re-start the state's financial engine after pandemic closures and keep the state on a solid financial footing.
Hazlewood's constituents can count on her for conservative, fair, business-minded, education-supportive decisions that put all Tennesseans first.