The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes]
Out-of-state groups are spending millions to unseat two of Tennessee’s most conservative elected officials – Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains-District 8) and Representative Bryan Richey (R-Maryville-District 20), who is a candidate for Tennessee Senate District 2.
One organization, Club For Growth, is gunning in particular for Niceley and Richey and the group’s political action committee (PAC) – the School Freedom Fund – has earmarked $3.6 million in the legislative races in Tennessee with the aim of supporting candidates who staunchly favor school vouchers for private schools, also a top priority of Governor Bill Lee.
Earlier this year, the PAC spent millions on state races in Texas where it targeted fourteen candidates that opposed state funding for vouchers. Ten of the candidates lost their races.
Niceley has said that the PAC’s ads calling him a liberal are lies and believes he is being targeted by school choice supporter and billionaire Jeff Yass who has a significant stake – worth $21 billion – in ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
Yass has donated the most money in 2024 to outside spending groups, more than $46 million, with $16 million going to Club for Growth.
ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing, has a diverse portfolio, including the acquisition and development of educational apps and platforms. Quietly operating one of the most popular educational apps on the market – AI-powered Gauth, a homework aid – Bytedance has already made inroads into education in American schools with millions of downloads. The app assists students with a variety of subjects including math and science.
While ByteDance’s educational investments include K-12, higher education, competency-based education, and vocational education, the company invests the most heavily in K-12.
Niceley, who is cautious about supporting vouchers believing it will raise taxes, says this is the first time he has had out-of-state groups attack him.
Referring to Memphis and Nashville where a voucher program has already been implemented, Niceley said, “Let’s wait and see if these things are gonna work.” A Representative for 12 years and a Senator for 12 years, Niceley has never voted for a tax increase.
The President of Club for Growth, David McIntosh, who wants to replicate their results in Texas, says that the group is “very driven by the principles that we care about” which include limited government, free markets, and school choice. However, vouchers for private schools are essentially an entitlement program as parents are not being refunded their tax dollars that would go towards educational expenses. Hardly the epitome of limited government.
Niceley believes that a bill he sponsored preventing China, North Korea, Venezuela, among others from buying land in Tennessee may have upset Yass, as ByteDance is the Chinese owner of TikTok.
Along with opposing Niceley in his Senate District 8 race, School Freedom Fund is also opposing Bryan Richey in his bid for Senate District 2, and supporting three other candidates. Jason Emert in the House District 20 race, Lee Reeves in House District 65, and Aron Maberry in House District 68.
On June 6th, Governor Bill Lee publicly announced his endorsement of Emert, Reeves and Maberry because of their support of Lee’s plan for school vouchers.
Emert faces two self-proclaimed conservative challengers in the primary: Nick Bright and Tom Stinnett.
Maberry, who is running to fill the House seat left vacant by current Representative Curtis Johnson who is retiring, faces other GOP challengers in the primary: Carol Duffin, Greg Gilman, and Joe Smith.
Reeves, who claims he wants to demagnetize the state against illegal immigration is the owner/operator of Triumph Equity Management in Texas that owns an apartment complex that houses illegal immigrants.
Reeves is running to fill the House seat left vacant by current Representative Sam Whitson who is also retiring at the end of the term. GOP challenger Brian Beathard is also running for the seat, as well as conservative Michelle Foreman.
Mailers originating from Team Kid PAC, Tennesseans for Student Success, and American Federation for Children have also been sent out presenting false information about Niceley.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
