CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennessee elected officials visited Clarksville on Monday as part of the Republican Road to Victory Bus Tour. The bus made its stop at Veterans Plaza, in view of the Montgomery County Election Commission, where candidates addressed voters.
Speakers for the tour stop included Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Sen. Bill Powers and state House District 67 candidate John Dawson.
Dawson rallies for ‘uphill battle’
“We have an uphill battle right here,” said Dawson. “I want to thank you. I want to make this happen for us. We need to take this district back, turn the whole top of the state red, most definitely, and get rid of our leftist ideals at this point in time.”
New to the political sphere, Dawson is running against Democratic Rep. Jason Hodges. Hodges has enjoyed bipartisan support from Montgomery County leadership, including both city and county mayors.
“There have been some Republicans that have supported him, and that doesn’t fare well for the group,” said Dawson. “This has been a 30-year-held Democratic district, and currently they are pushing hard. They have done an outstanding job at getting people out to vote. The whole of the county has, but for the Republican trying to defeat a 30-year-held Democrat seat, it’s definitely going to be an uphill battle.”
Strong turnout in Montgomery County
As of Monday morning, Oct. 26, 34,698 voters have cast their ballots, putting Montgomery on track to beat 2016’s turnout (36,853) by a healthy margin.
It’s a turnout that matches statewide trends.
“I think we might hit 2 million votes this year, which is huge for our state,” said Sexton. “I compliment everybody going out to vote, and honoring the military for their service by voting.”
There are four days remaining for early voting in Tennessee.
Voters may view Election Commission hours as well as a sample of the ballot here.