Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) endorsed one Tennessee Senate candidate and six candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the primary elections on August 1.
AFP Action’s endorsements heavily surrounded candidates’ work or advocacy on education issues, especially universal school choice.
In the Senate, AFP Action endorsed State Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) (pictured above, center) for reelection, citing the incumbent’s work as chair of the Senate Education Committee, saying, “Sen. Lundberg has been crucial to advancing educational reforms and public-school choice.”
“Beyond his support for school choice, he is a positive voice for the free-market, public safety and healthcare; he supported key reforms to victims’ restitution and certificate-of-need (CON),” AFP Action added.
In the House, AFP Action made endorsements in the District 20, 33, 64, 65, 68, and 73 races.
In District 20, AFP Action endorsed candidate Jason Emert, a reserve officer with the U.S. Air Force and member of the Tennessee Air National Guard, citing his campaign platform which “recognizes the need to end the healthcare monopoly by repealing CON, supports the advancement of statewide universal school choice, and supports ending occupational licensing.”
Another candidate AFP Action believes is “expected to play a crucial role in efforts to expand educational opportunities” if elected is candidate Aron Maberry (pictured above, left)in District 68, who currently serves as a Montgomery County school board member with “ties to the homeschool community.”
In District 65, AFP Action is endorsing candidate Lee Reeves, a Williamson County resident who is “is passionate about education reform and poised to be a vital partner in efforts to expand educational opportunities.”
“[Reeves] is expected to be an active voice supporting reforms that push back against the administrative state, ensure job creation, reduce regulatory burdens, and lower tax rates,” AFP Action said.
In District 33, AFP Action endorsed State Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge), calling the incumbent a “policy leader on education issues” and a “trusted voice on efforts to reform civil asset forfeiture” in addition to applauding his work as chair of the Government Operations Committee where he “provides oversight on regulations and licensing boards through a limited government perspective.”
“Rep. Ragan is a policy leader on education issues, supporting reforms to expand educational opportunities through school choice and the pilot ESA program. He is a trusted voice on efforts to reform civil asset forfeiture and plays an important role in maintaining a policy coalition, and he has been a key vote on legislation eliminating CON requirements,” AFP Action said.
Another “vital voice and a critical leader on educational issues” AFP Action endorsed is State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) (pictured above, right) in District 64, citing his work as chair of the Education Instruction Subcommittee.
“[Cepicky] has worked diligently to expand educational opportunities, including universal ESAs. Additionally, he has sponsored legislation aimed at ensuring public safety, maintaining a functioning justice system, and implementing key tax cuts. He is one of the few members to reject the practice of corporate welfare, with government picking winners and losers in business,” AFP Action said.
AFP Action’s final endorsement is State Representative Chris Todd (Madison County) in District 73, citing the incumbent’s leadership in “pushing for more transparency in government.”
“Todd has been a key leader pushing for more transparency in government. His efforts lead to the creation of a legislative dashboard, giving the public access to amendments before they are voted on. He has played a vital role in persuading other lawmakers to support expanding educational opportunities and co-sponsored legislation to eliminate CON requirements. Rep. Todd sponsored bills to cut taxes and is a leading voice for right-to-work,” AFP Action said.
AFP Action Senior Advisor for Tennessee Tori Venable said the organization’s endorsements are “carefully placed behind principled leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to making our state a freer and more prosperous place where families can succeed.”
“There are several open seats in the state legislature, and we are ready to hit the ground running to help Tennesseans get to know newcomers who’ve earned our endorsement. These policy champions will undoubtedly deliver lower taxes, better education, and more liberty for hard-working Tennesseans,” Venable said.
“We plan to put the full weight of our grassroots efforts behind each of our policy champions. Their voices are needed for the Volunteer state at a time when inflation is at its highest, and we are confident that they will be a great addition to the General Assembly,” Venable added.
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photos “State Representative Scott Cepicky” by State Representative Scott Cepicky; “Aron Maberry” by Aron Maberry; and “State Senator Jon Lundberg
by State Senator Jon Lundberg.
