Lee’s denunciation of outside spending doesn’t extend to groups backing his favored candidates

BY ERIK SCHELZIG

Key Points

1. The governor has denounced a Washington-based PAC’s role in trying to topple Sen. Jon Lundberg.
2. But Lee doesn’t have a problem with national groups agitating on behalf of his favored House candidates.
3. A PAC supporting Lundberg challenger Bobby Harshbarger finally filed its disclosure four days late.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who has decried the influence of a Washington-based PAC in a key state Senate race in northeastern Tennessee, doesn’t appear to have the same reservations when it comes to outside backing for candidates he supports.

After hosting a fundraiser for Sen. Jon Lundberg in May, Lee called it unacceptable that Republican primary challenger Bobby Harshbarger, the son of U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, was benefiting from independent expenditures originating “from Washington, people from Washington, funded from Washington.”

Chalkbeat…