CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Aron Maberry has won his first state level race, defeating Democrat Garfield Scott to become the state House District 68 representative.
“This has been a long campaign,” Maberry told Clarksville Now, at the Republican watch party at Appleton Harley-Davidson. “We have been running hard and had a very hard-fought primary. For us to come here and finding out we won, I don’t know what to say; I am just overjoyed.”
While Mayberry won easily Thursday night with 67.8% (23,247 votes) to Scott’s 31.9% (10,949 votes), he first had to face a brutal four-way Republican primary to replace longtime Rep. Curtis Johnson, who retired.
“It is a lot of work to run for a political office, I didn’t realize how much. I knocked over 2,000 doors myself. We put the work in and our heart sweat and tears. ”
As for what separated him from Scott, Maberry said, “I am a conservative Republican he is a liberal Democrat. I am for school choice, he’s for only pushing public schools. I’m also for public schools, but I believe parents should be the driver for their kids’ education. I have been very vocal from the beginning where there’s a lot that he hasn’t said.”
His top priority when he gets to the General Assembly is to advocate for school choice. “We are gonna work to get that passed.”
Scott: ‘I let them know we are here’
In a speech at the Democratic watch party at Hilton Garden Inn, Scott said he ran because he wanted to change things for Clarksville-Montgomery County, from infrastructure to corporate accountability. He said, “Hey, I made a dent in it, I let them know we are here.”
Scott thanked his supporters from all races and parties, and said he learned the value of perseverance. He said, “there’s nothing wrong with falling down, it’s about getting back up.”
He ended his speech implying he’ll run again in 2026, saying, “This is not a defeat, this is just a learning curb, and I’m not out of this at all. And I’ll just congratulate Aron tonight on his win.”
Tennessee House District 68 covers the eastern side of Clarksville and Montgomery County.
About the candidates
Aron Maberry is a member of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board. He grew up in Sango and graduated from Rossview High School and Bible College in Columbus, Ohio. He is a pastor on the staff at Mosaic Church.
Garfield Scott, who was born and raised in the St. Bethlehem area, is a retired truck driver and cattle farmer who also raised grain and tobacco.
Christian Brown, Jordan Renfro and Chris Smith contributed to this report.
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