The Mega Bullhorn of Truth | a Brian Hornback Production
It is time to take a look at the campaign finances in the Knox County area for Tennessee state legislative races and the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee races.
Who is raising money? Who is spending it? How much money remains in the campaign accounts as we approach Election Day on November 3, 2026?
In this installment, we examine State Senate Districts 5 and 7; State House Districts 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 89 and 90; and Republican State Executive Committee Districts 5, 6 and 7.
These figures are based on the campaign finance information available online for this report. Readers should consult the official Tennessee campaign finance disclosure records for the underlying filings. All amounts are reported as provided, and any discrepancies in the original figures should be reviewed against the official filings.
Let’s get into the numbers.
Tennessee State Senate Races
State Senate District 5: An Open Seat Following Lt. Gov. Randy McNally’s Retirement
Tennessee Senate District 5 has a significant change coming. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is retiring from legislative service, leaving an open seat in a district that includes all of Loudon and Anderson counties and part of Knox County.
Former Republican State Representative Jimmy Matlock is the Republican nominee. His campaign has reported substantial fundraising and a sizeable cash balance heading into the final stretch.
Jimmy Matlock — Republican nominee
- Cash on hand following the third quarter: $169,309.74
Matlock has built a substantial campaign account. That gives readers a useful starting point when examining the financial resources available to each candidate.
David Miller — Democratic nominee
Miller entered the third quarter with less than $2,000, raised less than $10,000, and spent a little more than $7,000. His reported cash on hand is $4,539.09.
The difference between the reported cash balances is considerable. Campaign finances do not tell the entire story of an election, but they do show the financial resources candidates have available for communications, advertising, staffing and other campaign activities.
State Senate District 7: Sen. Dr. Richard Briggs
Republican State Senator Dr. Richard Briggs reported $520,364.59 in campaign cash on hand.
In my opinion, that is a substantial balance for the final stretch of a legislative campaign. Whether a candidate spends a large portion of that money or preserves it is a campaign decision.
Briggs faces the same Democratic opponent he faced four years ago.
Briggs also faced criticism from his primary opponent (the same one from four years ago) during this election cycle. I did not find that criticism persuasive, but readers can examine the candidates’ public records and make their own assessments.
Democratic nominee
- Reported cash available for the remaining days of the campaign: $1,078.73
That is the financial picture presented by the reported figures as the campaign approaches Election Day.
Tennessee State House Races
House District 14: Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary
Republican Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary reported $96,246.99 in campaign cash on hand.
His Democratic opponent, reported $15,944.68.
The Democrat’s campaign received a contribution from Knox County Commissioner Shane Jackson, a Democrat. Jackson and his wife own property in both the Fourteenth and Ninetieth State House districts. The property in District 14 is within the Knox County Commission district Jackson represents.
Those are relevant connections for readers examining campaign contributions and the local political landscape. The contribution itself should be evaluated in the context of the official disclosure report, including its reported amount and date.
As always, campaign finance records are public records. Voters should be able to examine who contributes to campaigns and how those campaigns use the money.
House District 15: Sam McKenzie Runs Unopposed
Democrat Sam McKenzie is unopposed in House District 15.
According to the figures supplied for this report, McKenzie’s filing lists the following activity:
- Beginning cash balance: $17,598.88
- Contributions received: $7,750.00
- Expenditures: $2,926.83
- Reported ending cash balance: $22,422.05
An unopposed race raises an important question for the next election cycle: will the opposing party recruit a candidate early enough to offer voters a choice?
My view is that Republicans should begin organizing for the 2028 election cycle on November 4, 2026. Recruiting candidates, identifying potential supporters and developing a campaign organization takes time. Waiting until the next filing deadline is not a substitute for preparing in advance.
House District 16: Rep. Michele Carringer
Republican Representative Michele Carringer reported the following campaign figures:
- Beginning cash balance: $255,471.65
- Contributions received: $30,450.00
- Expenditures: $25,239.02
- Reported ending cash balance: $260,682.63
Carringer’s Democratic opponent, reported:
- Beginning cash balance: $1,422.77
- Contributions received: $3,935.21
- Expenditures: $3,579.93
- Reported ending cash balance: $1,778.05
The reported figures show a substantial difference in the candidates’ available campaign funds.
Campaign cash is one measure of campaign resources. It does not, by itself, measure volunteer activity, voter engagement or the effectiveness of a campaign’s message.
House District 18: Elaine Davis Faces a Competitive Race
House District 18 is one of five state legislative races that, according to the campaign landscape described for this report, both major political parties are working to win.
Republican Representative Elaine Davis is seeking a third term.
Elaine Davis — Republican
- Beginning cash balance after the August 6, 2026, primary: $67,398.33
- Contributions received: $60,664.39
- Expenditures: $63,726.18
- Reported ending cash balance: $64,335.54
Davis has received assistance beyond her own campaign’s reported financial activity. The Tennessee Republican Party purchased advertising on The Mega Bullhorn of Truth for Davis, and the Tennessee Republican State House Caucus has continued to assist her. Other groups are also involved.
These activities should be distinguished from direct campaign expenditures. Party committees, caucuses and other organizations may conduct their own activities subject to applicable campaign finance rules and reporting requirements. Their spending should be reviewed through their respective disclosures rather than automatically attributed to Davis’s campaign.
Davis faces the same Democratic opponent she faced two years ago.
Democratic nominee
- Beginning cash balance after the August 6 primary: $92,378.69
- Contributions received: $75,464.21
- Expenditures: $88,030.62
- Reported ending cash balance: $79,812.28
The Democratic candidate’s reported figures show significant fundraising and spending during the reporting period.
I do not have independently verified information establishing the extent of any additional party assistance to the Democratic campaign. That question should be answered through the relevant committee disclosures, not assumption.
House District 18 voters: Pay attention.
This is a race worth watching as Election Day approaches. Examine the candidates, their records, their campaign messages and the public financial disclosures. Then make a plan and vote.
House District 19: Rep. Dave Wright and His Democratic Opponent
Republican Representative Dave Wright reported:
- Beginning cash balance: $77,107.36
- Contributions received: $4,500.00
- Expenditures: $3,616.90
- Reported ending cash balance: $77,990.46
I have a personal connection to House District 19. I lived in the district, within Tennessee Senate District 6, from 1973 through 1992. My wife and I married in 1988, began our family, and welcomed our first son in 1990. In 1992, we moved to the other end of Senate District 6, into House District 14, where we have remained.
So, yes, I am biased in my support for Rep. Wright. I believe readers deserve to know that connection when I discuss his race.
The Democratic opponent
- Beginning cash balance: $3,595.27
- Contributions received: $6,312.71
- Expenditures: $3,086.81
- Reported ending cash balance: $6,821.17
Among the reported contributions were donations from Knox County Commissioner Brandon Huckaby and Senate candidate David Miller.
Rep. Wright and his Democratic opponent also faces a write-in candidate.
As with the other races, readers can review the underlying campaign finance reports to see the individual contributions, expenditures and reporting details.
House District 89: Rep. Justin Lafferty
Republican Representative Justin Lafferty reported the following campaign figures:
- Beginning cash balance: $100,813.64
- Contributions received: $15,500.00
- Expenditures: $4,921.34
- Reported ending cash balance: $111,392.30
The reported figures reconcile to the ending balance.
As of 8:15 p.m. Eastern on October 18, 2026, the campaign finance disclosure website did not show a third-quarter filing for Lafferty’s opponent, according to the records I reviewed for this report.
Readers can check the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance for campaign finance information and filing records.
The absence of a filing from the website at the time of my review is a statement about what was displayed then. It should not, by itself, be taken as proof that a candidate deliberately failed to comply. Filing status and any subsequent updates should be confirmed through the official records.
House District 90: Gloria Johnson Runs Unopposed
Democrat Gloria Johnson is unopposed in House District 90.
Her campaign reported:
- Beginning cash balance: $14,406.61
- Contributions received: $2,290.00
- Expenditures: $3,569.46
- Reported ending cash balance: $13,127.15
An unopposed race is another reminder that competitive elections require early organization. If Republicans want to contest this seat in 2028, candidate recruitment and preparation should begin immediately after the 2026 election.
The next cycle will arrive sooner than many people think.
Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee Races — August 6, 2026
Now let’s turn from the legislative races to the Republican State Executive Committee, the party’s state-level governing body.
These races are different from legislative contests. The committee represents districts within the Tennessee Republican Party structure, and candidates’ campaign finance activity can vary significantly depending on the level of competition and the applicable reporting requirements.
The information below reflects the records available to me as of 8:15 p.m. Eastern on October 18, 2026. Where a filing was not available, I will say so rather than speculate about its contents.
State Executive Committee District 5
Men’s race
Zach Farrar was the winner. Lucas Heaton was also a candidate.
I have not obtained the Anderson County records that may contain Farrar and Heaton’s filing. Therefore, I am not reporting a financial total for them.
Women’s race
Sherri Garrett had previously filed in Knox County. As of 8:15 p.m. Eastern on October 18, no filing was visible online, despite an October 12 deadline.
Amy Poteet was also a candidate. I believe her filing may be in Anderson County, but I have not obtained that record.
State Executive Committee District 6
This is my district, and I will disclose my own involvement.
I was the successful candidate in the District 6 men’s race. Martin Amons was the unsuccessful challenger.
Martin Amons — unsuccessful challenger
- Beginning cash balance: $5,706.26
- Contributions received: $0.00
- Expenditures: $5,706.26
- Reported ending cash balance: $0.00
The expenditures listed in the information supplied for this report included:
- $100.00 for Treasurer Chrissy Stephens
- $554.02 to Knox Liberty Organization
- $3,152.24 to Victory Text
- $1,900.00 to Representative Elaine Davis
Brian Hornback — successful candidate
- Beginning cash balance: $3,580.29
- Expenditures: $2,775.63
- Reported ending cash balance: $804.66
My campaign also received an in-kind contribution from Steve Hunley valued at $1,357.40 for a Knox Focus advertisement.
I am including my own figures because transparency must apply to everyone, including me. Readers should be able to see the financial activity reported by both candidates and examine the records themselves.
Women’s race
Gwen Baxter had no filings and no appointment of treasurer reflected in the information available to me.
Jane Chedester did file an appointment of treasurer. She may have remained below the $1,000 threshold for detailed campaign finance reporting,
State Executive Committee District 7
Men’s race
Jeremy Coffey was unopposed. The records available to me did not show an appointment of treasurer.
Women’s race
Staci Beeler was the winner. The information available to me did not show an appointment of treasurer for Beeler.
Janis Crye had filed an appointment of treasurer and continued to report the $1.67 cash balance shown in her last report.
Final Thoughts: Campaign Finance Is Part of Political Transparency
Campaign finance reports give voters a view into the financial side of elections. They show reported contributions, expenditures and cash balances, and they can help the public understand how candidates and political organizations are financing their activities.
For the unopposed seats, the lesson for the next election cycle is straightforward: competitive races require preparation well before candidates qualify. If a party wants to contest a seat in 2028, recruitment, fundraising, volunteer development and voter outreach cannot wait until the last minute.
Read the records. Ask questions. Verify the numbers. Make your own decisions.
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the Mega Bullhorn of Truth | a Brian Hornback Production
