CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Republican State Sen. Bill Powers defeated Democratic rival Karen Reynolds to return to office in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Powers had 45,563 votes (60.9%) to Reynolds’ 29,171 (39%).

“This one was a bit more special because I had a full four-year term between cycles,” Powers told Clarksville Now. “It’s an affirmation from Montgomery County that I am doing a good job.”

“You know, I am not getting any younger, and the older I get, the more I realize the things I am able to do for Montgomery County, and the thought of getting more for the county is what drives me every day.”

Karen Reynolds at Hilton Garden Inn for the Democratic watch party, Nov. 5 2024. (Knox Rives)

Reynolds: ‘Women aren’t afraid’

Reynolds, who passed up running for re-election to City Council to run for the state Senate seat, told Clarksville Now that running for the seat made a difference.

“We have had conversations within the community, and we listened to the community, so even though we didn’t win, it’s important for us to remember that women aren’t afraid. We need to continue to make sure that our voices are heard at every level.”

She said she’s proud of the campaign, and the campaign team. “I wouldn’t really change anything we did, maybe just refine it. We really expressed how every vote matters and really pushed for more people to go out and vote. I think we started knocking on doors in June but if I could have done it again, I would have started that conversation as early as possible.”

As for what’s next, she said, “I will continue to advocate for personal freedom, LGBTQ, women’s rights and public education. I am very concerned about our public schools, and I will focus on that in our community level.”

Tennessee Senate District 22 covers most of Montgomery County.

About the candidates

Bill Powers has been state senator since 2019 and serves as the vice chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, a member of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and a member of the Transportation and Safety Committee. He previously served two terms on the Clarksville City Council.

Karen Reynolds represents Ward 9 on the Clarksville City Council. She retired as a master sergeant after 21 years in the Army. She has worked as a veteran service representative for the VA and as a project manager in healthcare informatics at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. She holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education from East Carolina University.

Christian Brown, Jordan Renfro and Chris Smith contributed to this report.

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