The State Primary Election: 

The primary election for TN Governor; U.S. House of Representatives, 6th Congressional District; TN Senate, 15th District;  TN House of Representatives, 42nd District;  TN House of Representatives, 43rd District is this week. 

For most of these seats, that means that one Democratic and one Republican candidate will remain in the race at week's end. 

This is important, because just a few votes will likely be the difference between some of these races.

So -- who will you vote for?  Let's take the Governor's Race first. 

Democratic Candidates

Jim Kyle (D)   Kim McMillan* (D) Mike McWherter (D) 

Boiling it (way) down....

Mike McWherter seems the front runner and is focused first on jobs creation.  If you like the direction Governor Bredesen has taken, you're likely to like Mike. 

Jim Kyle's approach to economic development is focused on higher learning -- making it easier for Tennesseans to get their college degrees.  Kyle supports the kind of governor that Ned McWherter (Mike's dad) was and has a long record of voting at the state level.

Kim McMillan has been Majority Leader of the State House of Representatives, served in the Governor's Cabinet as Senior Advisor to the Governor and been Executive Director of Community and Business Relations for Austin Peay State University.  She wants to "bring people together."  If she wins she will be Tennessee's first female governor. 

The Republicans

Here's where the race has already been fiercely fought...and heavily spent.  The big money guy is Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who has deep pockets and some say has tried to "buy" the election because he's outspent his opponents exponentially.   His totals are reportedly in the neighborhood of $15M, while his opponents are making do with $3-5M.   Still, some 25% of voters are reportedly undecided, so money hasn't done the trick completely -- yet.   And some argue that there's nothing wrong with a successful business person reaching into those wells.  Others think it outrageous to spend that kind of money for a job that will earn $150K annually.

Bill Haslam (R)    If you know anything about this candidate you've probably heard the words "executive experience."  An oft repeated mantra, fans in this corner say they like what he's done as Mayor and as a leader in his Pilot organizations.  He's also probably the best with a one on one conversation or a good t.v. ad.    Exuding a sort of casual vibe, he has attracted a lot of other big money in Tennessee and seems more at home in his office than on the trail.  Those who don't love him are disappointed with the "depth" of planning and experience, or suspiscious of his lack of financial disclosure, or downright angry about his campaign tactics. He's not at his best in a debate, but the journalists seem to have been gentle with him.   Some characterize him as the "Republican's Democrat" .... 

Ron Ramsey (R)  If you know anything about this candidate, you probably have seen the boot.  Commercials, video, public appearances have all been venues for the now famous boots Ramsey wears and promises to use in office.  The current Lt. Governor and an owner of an auctioneering company, Ramsey comes across as likeable and possessing good general knowledge.  Philosophically, he's mostly lined up with conservative Wamp.  Those who say they're voting for him say that they like his "go get 'em" message or that he's the "lesser of three evils" or that he's just the best qualified based on his experience in the state legislature.  WIth the most history on the state hill, his stated focus is the creation of jobs.  He seems to have a broad understanding of many issues and to have gained the respect of many legislators at state level.   He didn't please some educators with his statement last week in Cookeville that pre-K education was a "collosal waste" of money.   Educators say that stance is highly uninformed.  Others who don't share the love for Ramsey say that he's a bit shallow on the gameplan, a bit steep on rhetoric and too ready to flash those boots. 

Zach Wamp (R)  He's possibly the most underestimated candidate in this three-way race and it's easy to see why.  He has a hard time getting his message out if he's not in a room of "doers."  His t.v. ads look stiff and some of the things that he says in formal interviews get him into trouble sounding like a bit of an extremist.   He doesn't convey Haslam's warmth or Ramsey's playful side, but he has a notable band of avid followers.  Dave Ramsey, the conservative financial guru, gave him an endorsement -- an unusual act for him.  Those that voice strong support for Wamp are a combination of intellectual Libertarian types, hard core Republicans, small business folks and non-partison professors.  Strongest in a meeting with a group of practitioners, this guy is the opposite of broad-stroke Haslam -- Wamp believes that the devil is in the details and has spent a lot of time listening to specifics from "those who know" across the state that he is using to shape vision and a policy plan.  Locally, he's heavily benchmarked our ability to do "the most with the least" in education and wants to create legislation that helps us innovate further.   

The face-off between Republican, Democrat, and any others that make their way into the final round will be Election Day November 2.

 Much more information is available on each of these candidates at

this link.