Gary Humble has ended his state senate campaign just two months after launching a bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, citing “personal and organizational commitments.” According to the Williamson Scene, Humble made the announcement last Friday, saying, “after much prayer, thought, and honest conversations with my family, I have reached the conclusion that this is not the right pursuit for me at this time.” The founder and executive director of Tennessee Stands will continue to run that organization. He has offered a full refund to anyone who donated to his campaign.

Turnout was low in the special primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, with about 67,000 votes cast across both parties compared with nearly 330,000 in the 2024 general election, Tennessee Lookout reports. Democratic primary turnout of roughly 31,000 nearly matched Republicans’ 36,000 votes. Former General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps will face Rep. Aftyn Behn in the Dec. 2 general election to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Green. Early voting begins Nov. 12.

Knox News reports that 138 Knoxville voters cast their ballots for the first time during early voting this year while 11,722 people in all early voted in the local election, which represents about 12% of eligible city voters. The early voting turnout of 10,855, excluding absentee and nursing home ballots, far exceeds early voting in the 2023 general election of 6,474. Knox County Elections Administrator Chris Davis told Knox News the high turnout is driven largely by a proposed half-percent sales tax increase on the citywide ballot. City Council seats in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are also up for election, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on Election Day.

President Donald Trump announced last week he is backing the reelection bid of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, Axios Nashville reports. Ogles, who won the newly drawn House seat in 2022, is expected to face challengers from the right and left. He also is dealing with a federal campaign finance investigation. Trump posted on social media that Ogles is a "conservative warrior" who is "fighting tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A. and American Energy DOMINANCE, Safeguard our Elections, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment."

Charlie Hatcher, who stepped down last month as Tennessee’s agriculture commissioner, is expected to announce this week that he will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the Republican primary for the 5th Congressional District, The Tennessee Journal reports. A Williamson County veterinarian, Hatcher has served nearly seven years as the head of the Agriculture Department for Gov. Bill Lee. He previously worked for a decade as the state veterinarian.

State Rep. Justin J. Pearson is planning to challenge long-time incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, according to the Commercial Appeal. Cohen has held the seat — which encompasses most of Memphis and some of its suburbs — since 2007. The Democratic primary for the seat will be held in August 2026, followed by a general election in November 2026. "The status quo is not working for us," Pearson said in an interview ahead of the announcement. "I think that we will be the strongest candidate in the race. We have the right vision, the right ideas, the right goals and visions” for the district. According to The Tennessee Journal, Pearson plans to run for re-election to his state House seat while challenging Cohen. Read more about his campaign.

Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, has won the Democratic nomination in the special primary for the state’s 7th Congressional District, defeating three other candidates in the district’s first four-way Democratic primary in decades, The Tennessean reports. Behn will face Republican nominee Matt Van Epps in the Dec. 2 general election. Van Epps, who defeated eight rivals for the Republican nomination, earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who held a tele-rally on the eve of the election calling Van Epps “very special” and “a true champion for the people of the Seventh District.” The winner in December will replace retired U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who stepped down in July.

President Donald Trump and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee have endorsed Republican Matt Van Epps ahead of Tuesday’s 7th Congressional District primary election, the Nashville Post reports. Trump’s endorsement came one day after Lee announced his support, writing on X that “Matt will stand with President Trump 100% to push back against the extreme agendas that threaten this country.” Following Trump’s endorsement, state Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, suspended his campaign and endorsed Van Epps. Campaigns for the other two Republican frontrunners, state Reps. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, and Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, have not commented. Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee National Guard. Polls for the primary election will be open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT.

Out-of-state PACs are pouring millions into Tennessee’s special congressional race in District 7, with most of the money spent attacking Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, for opposing school vouchers and a 2024 tax rebate plan. The School Freedom Fund, bankrolled solely by billionaire Jeff Yass, has spent over $500,000 against Barrett, though it hasn’t endorsed another candidate. Matt Van Epps, endorsed by retiring Republican Rep. Mark Green, has received more than $500,000 in outside PAC support. Much of that money can be traced to a PAC funded by the parents of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, WPLN reports. Other frontrunners, including Lee Reeves and state Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, have relied heavily on personal loans to their campaigns, while on the Democratic side, Darden Copeland and Rep. Bo Mitchell of Nashville lead fundraising, with state Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, receiving some support from an out-of-state PAC. Early voting ends today; the primary election is Oct. 7.

Dr. Michaela Barnett, executive director of Blue Tennessee, a grassroots organization that helps elect Democratic leaders, announced her candidacy for Congress on Thursday, WBIR reports. Barnett is running to represent Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Knox County. The district includes Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, Loudon and Union counties. Barnett is also a scientist and owner of KnoxFill, a sustainable product refill business. Burchett’s campaign manager, Thomas McAfee, said the congressman plans to seek reelection in 2026. Burchett first took office in 2019.