‘They want school choice’: Tennessee primary seen as a pro-voucher ‘mandate’ from voters

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Thursday night’s primary elections are being seen as a win for school voucher advocates.

AFP Action, an arm of the pro-voucher Americans for Prosperity School, said 10 of the 13 candidates they supported in Statehouse elections won their primary races.

Tori Venable, Senior Advisor for AFP Action, described the election as a sign voters support Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher program.

“The primary election was a mandate from voters that they want school choice, they want more educational freedom,” Venable said.

However, Venable said she would’ve liked to see more pro-voucher candidates win their primary. “It makes the policy majority razor-thin, I think with just a 51, which is enough to pass,” she said.

She acknowledged that factors beyond vouchers influenced the races they lost, including a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

In one notable race, Senate Education Chairman Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) lost to Bobby Harshbarger, who received Trump’s endorsement.

However, AFP Action is optimistic about advancing the school voucher agenda in the upcoming legislative session.

“We are in a prime position to make sure that we have a universal school choice that will apply to, you know, 80% of the families across the state from the outset,” Venable stated.

Venable said, unlike the last session when there were multiple versions of a universal school voucher bill, they are ready with one piece of legislation they believe can make it past the finish line and onto Lee’s desk for his signature.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.