State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that she is seriously considering running against U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn in the 2024 election. "I am considering it, yes," Johnson told the paper. "There have been a whole lot of people, very serious people, asking me to do it. And so I told them I would seriously consider doing it.” Blackburn, a Republican, was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Johnson recently gained national attention after she was nearly expelled from the Tennessee General Assembly for protesting for gun reform on the House floor as part of the "Tennessee Three."

Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, will face challenger David Page in the July primary triggered by Pearson’s April expulsion from and reinstatement to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Early voting runs today through June 10 for the June 15 primary. The Commercial Appeal reports the winner of that race will face Independent Jeff Johnston in the special general election set for Aug. 3.

Nashville residents will have an opportunity to meet the 12 candidates running for city mayor this summer at a series of forums to be held throughout Davidson County. Mayor John Cooper has decided not to seek reelection. The deadline to register to vote is July 5. Early voting begins July 14 and the general election will be held Aug. 3. All forums are open to the public but require prior registration. Visit the Nashville Banner for an updated schedule.

Nashville attorney Joanne Sowell filed paperwork establishing a Democratic campaign for Senate with the Federal Election Commission last month. Sowell is an attorney at the Wood Stabell Law Group, whose managing attorney Nancy Wood Stabell is listed as Sowell’s campaign treasurer. Sowell received her law degree from Tulane University Law School and has worked or volunteered with several local nonprofits, including Room in the Inn, Emerge Tennessee and Impact100. The Nashville Post reports that at least one other Democrat, Dylan Fain of Nashville, has filed paperwork establishing a campaign.

Belmont University will host the first televised Nashville mayoral debate tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Nine candidates will join co-moderator David Plazas from The Tennessean and Carrie Sharp from NewsChannel 5 for a 90-minute question and answer session. The event will air on NewsChannel 5. The debate series is sponsored by The Tennessean, NewsChannel 5 and the League of Women Voters of Nashville. Future events will take place on June 22, July 6 and Aug. 24. Read more from the school.

Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will serve as national co-chair of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s campaign for president, Politico reported today. Haslam, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019, explained his decision saying, “The more I talked to Tim, the more I became convinced that he’s got a message that the country really needs to hear right now.” The news source said Scott is readying an official campaign launch for next week.

Gov. Bill Lee told reporters yesterday that he hopes the state can forge a better path with whoever succeeds current Nashville Mayor John Cooper, WPLN reports. “I look forward to working with the next mayor, whoever that is, to make sure that we keep Nashville one of the most exciting cities in America — keep it moving in that direction and to minimize the politics at play,” Lee said. Republicans in the General Assembly made their displeasure with city officials known throughout the past legislative session, passing measures to cut the Metro Council in half, changing the makeup of the city’s sports and airport authorities, and disbanding the community oversight board.

The Tennessean in partnership with NewsChannel 5 will host a series of mayoral candidate debates beginning May 18 at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are free. The 90-minute debate will feature nine candidates who have qualified by raising at least $50,000 in campaign funds. Debates will continue through July. Early voting begins Aug. 3. An additional debate will take place in late August in the event of a runoff election. Read more from the Tennessean.

Representatives Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, have officially filed for reelection. The two representatives were expelled after protesting on the House floor in April in support of the public’s calls for gun reform. Both were reappointed to their seats within days of expulsion and have been serving as interim representatives. The special elections are estimated to cost somewhere between $70,000 and $120,000 in Nashville and around $400,000 in Memphis, according to News Channel 5 and the Daily Memphian.

A new statewide poll released by Vanderbilt University shows that Tennessee residents across the political spectrum agree on some measures to curb gun violence. The poll found broad support (75%) for so-called "red flag" laws that separate people from guns if they pose a threat to themselves or others, while about two-thirds supported penalties for people who do not securely store their firearms. The advocacy group Voices for a Safer Tennessee published a poll last month that also found support for keeping guns away from dangerous people. Axios Nashville reports on the poll. Watch a video from poll takers explaining the findings.