KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Several Republican Tennessee lawmakers who had served for years lost their seats in recent statewide primary elections.
Republican state Sen. Frank Niceley lost to Jessie Seal. He served for around 12 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives before winning election to the Senate in 2013.
Republican Rep. Bryan Richey also lost. Richey served as a state representative since 2022 and was running for a seat in the Tennessee Senate this year.
A national group used political ads to target Both Niceley and Richey for being against "school choice freedom."
The term "school choice freedom" refers to Gov. Bill Lee's failed TN Education Freedom Act. The legislation would've funded private school costs with public money by allocating hundreds of millions of dollars toward private school scholarships.
When the legislation failed, Lee hinted that he'd pursue candidates in the recent election who support school vouchers. He has said he intends to renew school voucher talks next session.
Despite Lee's strong support for vouchers, many local education leaders are against the program.
WBIR sat down with seven East Tennessee superintendents who opposed Lee's voucher plan. They said vouchers would harm public education, lack accountability and have proved a failure in other states where it's been tried. They say the ultimate beneficiaries include the private schools themselves and their financial backers.
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