As Tennessee approaches the 2026 gubernatorial election, it is imperative to reflect on the leadership of Governor Bill Lee and consider the future direction of our state. Governor Lee’s tenure has been marked by decisions that, in my view, have consistently undermined conservative principles and the trust of the Tennesseans who elected him.
In 2018, Bill Lee ran as a political outsider and business mogul, leaning heavily on his Christian faith. His nice guy persona played well to Tennessee voters who were looking for a bit of authenticity in the Governor’s office and, perhaps, wanting to capitalize on the new political movement that was budding under the first Trump administration. Unfortunately, Tennessee quickly learned that Bill Lee was no Donald Trump.
I got a front-row seat to watching Bill Lee fold under political pressure from the moment he got into office. At the time, I worked with the Family Action Council of Tennessee, which was working on abortion legislation in addition to a bathroom bill to protect our girls in schools across the state. The bathroom bill died in 2019. Members from the Governor’s office cited that Lee was not supportive as the move was simply “too controversial” for his first year in office. Immediately, I knew we had been sold a bill of goods.
Next came the heartbeat bill. There was a summer study on the bill that had taken place in late 2019. Pro-life advocates from across the state filled the hearing room at Cordell Hull for multiple days to hear incredible, faith-filled testimonies on the importance of the legislation. Out of those meetings came the Rule of Law Life Act, which drew the support of the entire pro-life community and was positioned to protect life from conception from a strong constitutional foundation. But Bill Lee would have none of it.
Leading into the beginning of the 2020 legislative session, that bill was quietly killed in favor of a last-minute heartbeat bill that had been drafted by the Governor’s office. Bill Lee didn’t want what the pro-life community was selling. He wanted his own bill. And he wanted his name on it. Again, another sign revealing that we had made a terrible mistake.
And, of course, in March of 2020, everything would change. And in that moment, all of Tennessee got to see who Governor Bill Lee really was. A tyrant. And history has shown that he loved every minute of it, unrepentant and dogmatic in his love for the executive branch. Who needs a legislature anyway?
Governor Lee’s subsequent and most recent actions only continue to bear out the same narrative. Despite appeals from churches and conservative groups, he signed HB 533, legislation that codifies a right to emergency contraception and in vitro fertilization (IVF), into Tennessee law. This move was met with disappointment from pro-life advocates, including Tennessee Right to Life, who criticized the decision as a departure from pro-life values.
Furthermore, Governor Lee issued his first-ever veto to block a bill that would have expanded the parole board’s authority to deny parole based on the seriousness of the crime. This legislation had broad support from Republican lawmakers and district attorneys, who argued it was necessary to ensure public safety. By vetoing this bill, the Governor signaled a reluctance to take a firm stance on crime and justice.
Governor Lee has also remained notably silent on the issue of illegal immigration, failing to address concerns about its impact on our communities. Additionally, his administration has supported substantial corporate welfare initiatives, most notably the nearly $900 million incentive package for Ford’s Blue Oval City electric vehicle plant in West Tennessee. Bill Lee has banked Tennessee’s economic growth on electric vehicles, a product that many Americans do not want and one that has so far required massive government subsidies just to survive.
And I would be remised not to mention HB 324. Thankfully, this bill passed in the 2025 legislative session and was put into law, stating that during an emergency, the Governor shall not enact executive orders that seek to abrogate the constitutionally secured rights of Tennessee citizens. Common sense, right? Not only did Bill Lee not sign the bill, he issued a statement on the bill, which is an extremely rare occurrence. In that statement, he cited his displeasure on the bill’s passage as “additional restrictions [on his authority] would exacerbate damage and endanger lives.
Take a moment to let that sink in. The Governor of the State of Tennessee scolded the General Assembly for passing a bill that would restrict his ability to threaten our constitutional rights in an emergency. That’s rich for a conservative, isn’t it?
I could go on. And, well, I suppose I have for the last five years. I am no fan of this governor. But now, Tennessee faces its next crossroads.
As we consider the future leadership of Tennessee, it’s crucial to evaluate potential candidates who will uphold conservative values and principles. As of now, only one candidate has officially announced that he is running, that is Congressman John Rose, hailing from Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District. And while no official announcement has been made, it’s clear that Senator Marsha Blackburn has her eye on the governor’s mansion.
There is a lot of speculation as to why Blackburn has yet to officially announce her candidacy. I will give you my two cents. (1) She has not yet secured an endorsement from President Trump. And God be merciful, I certainly hope she doesn’t. (2) She has millions still to spend from her senate campaign fund that she cannot transfer into a gubernatorial campaign due to campaign finance regulations.
I would have to imagine that others will throw their hat into the ring in the coming months. So, it’s a bit early to weigh in too heavily. But I will say this: it would be a cold day in hell before I would vote for Marsha Blackburn. Besides having nothing to show for a 20-year career in Congress, the last thing I would want for Tennessee is a new administration handpicked by Marsha’s handler, Ward Baker…a Mitch McConnell political hack with a lust for power and all the trappings of a Haslam 3.0 corporate machine.
My sincere hope is that Tennessee voters have become a bit more discerning since 2018, that time we fell for the nice guy act. We need a governor that is God-fearing to his core. We need a governor so committed to protecting the Constitution that he would do so to his own detriment. We need a governor who understands the times in which we live and has the discernment to choose the wellbeing of Tennessee over outside interests.
We need a governor that will fight for the people of Tennessee.
Hatcheck to Lucy
