TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 15, 2022

State Sen. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, yesterday announced her retirement and subsequent endorsement of Keeda Haynes for the District 19 seat she has held for one term. Haynes also announced her bid for the seat yesterday. The announcements fell on the final day to qualify for a state Senate primary race, raising questions of “skulduggery,” the Nashville Post reports. The state’s anti-skulduggery law prevents candidates from withdrawing at the last minute to help out a friend. The last-minute maneuvering could trigger an extended qualifying period for the seat, which represents North Nashville, parts of East Nashville and south to Antioch. Haynes, a former public defender, unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, in the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional seat in 2020.