Tennessee Voter Guide: The key Middle Tennessee state House races on Aug. 1

• The voter registration deadline was on July 2.
• Election day for the primaries and county general election is Thursday, Aug. 1.
• Early voting runs from July 12 through July 27.

Voters across Tennessee will have a chance to vote in all 99 Tennessee House of Representative districts this year, as all seats are up for a vote in 2024. Infrastructure concerns, 2nd Amendment issues, health care access and the conflict between pro-voucher and public education advocates are major priorities this election cycle, according to the candidates vying for a seat at the Tennessee Capitol,.

Here's who will be on the Republican and Democratic ballots for contested primaries in middle Tennessee:

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 13

Tennessee House District 13 includes part of Rutherford County.

Jami K. Averwater, Republican

Jami Atwater, an attorney and title business owner, is currently a member of the Murfreesboro City Council. Atwater's legislative priorities include improving public safety and maintaining low taxes.

Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna

Incumbent Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, is running for his second term in the General Assembly. Prior to his election to the legislature, he served 12 years on the Rutherford County Commission. Last year, Stevens sponsored legislation to remove certain taxes from adoption cases and support further streamlining adoptions in Tennessee. Stevens' legislative priorities include anti-abortion policies and Second Amendment rights.

Jonathan Yancey, Democrat

Jonathan Yancey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 13.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 56

Tennessee House District 56 includes part of central Davidson County.

Nick Forster-Benson, Democrat

Nick Forster-Benson is a public policy researcher and current student at Vanderbilt University. Forster-Benson's legislative priorities include increased health care access, including Medicaid expansion, and support for rural community health centers, and housing opportunities to include rent stabilization and funding for public housing. Forster-Benson also supports a $20 minimum wage and mandated paid time off for Tennessee workers, among other priorities.

Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville

Incumbent Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, is running for reelection in House District 56. He was first elected to office in 2018. Freeman, president of one of Middle Tennessee's largest real estate and property management companies, has carried bills related to domestic violence resources, sexual harassment and assault interventions and consumer protections. In recent months, Freeman has advocated for gun safety reforms and health care access. Freeman opposes the school voucher effort in the General Assembly.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 60

House District 60 is an open district following the resignation of Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville, who is leaving the General Assembly to lead state relations for Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell. The district encompasses northeast Davidson County in the Old Hickory area.

Chad Bobo, Republican

Chad Bobo first became involved with conservative advocacy on a volunteer level. Bobo, who formerly worked in insurance and logistics, lists jobs and economy issues among his top legislative priorities, including cutting red tape for small businesses and developing more manufacturing and production jobs. Bobo's legislative priorities also include increasing vocational and technical training for high school students and increasing infrastructure investments in the growing middle Tennessee region.

Christopher Huff, Republican

Christopher Huff, a Hermitage native, previously mounted an unsuccessful bid for the District 60 seat in 2022. If elected, Huff pledges to expand gun rights in Tennessee. Huff's legislative priorities are anti-abortion policies, business recruitment and lowering taxes.

Shaundelle Brooks, Democrat

Shaundelle Brooks began lobbying the General Assembly for gun safety reforms after the shooting death of her son, Akilah, in the 2018 Waffle House mass shooting. Brooks, a Hermitage resident and parole officer, ranks gun violence prevention as her top legislative priority. Brooks supports gun safety reforms such as red flag laws, purchase waiting periods and a ban on assault weapons. Brooks opposes school vouchers while listing affordable housing, health care access and reproductive rights among her slate of priorities.

John Parrish, Democrat

John Parrish is a U.S. Navy veteran and former committeeman with the Davidson County Democratic Party.

Tyler Brasher, Democrat

Tyler Brasher, a health care financial professional, first became involved in Davidson County civic life through the Donelson Hermitage Neighborhood Alliance. The Nashville Metro Council later elected Brasher to a six-year term on the city's Health and Educational Facilities Board. Brasher's legislative priorities include supporting public education through increased teacher salaries and overall funding. Brasher opposes voucher programs for public schools. Gun safety reform, increased funding for public transit and increased health care and abortion access are among his stated priorities.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 61

Tennessee House District 61 includes a swath of northern Williamson County.

Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood

Incumbent Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, is unopposed in the Republican primary for the District 61 seat.

Claire Jones, Democrat

Claire Jones, a Williamson County hospice nurse, began advocating for gun safety reform following the shooting death of a coworker and the 2023 Covenant School shooting. Jones' legislative priorities include increased funding for public education, Medicaid expansion, reproductive health care and gun safety.

Kurt Kosack, Democrat

Kurt Kosack is a former U.S. Navy flight officer who later became a Nashville teacher before retiring in 2020. Among his campaign priorities are "reasonable" gun regulations, including red flag laws, and abortion rights. Kosack also support legislation to require that all elected officials work at least 3 days per year in local schools.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 64

House District 64 encompasses east Maury County.

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka

Incumbent Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, is chair of the education instruction subcommittee and this year was the lead House sponsor pushing Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher plan. Cepicky, a mortgage broker and rancher, has long been an advocate for conservative education policies in the General Assembly. Lee endorsed Cepicky's reelection ahead of an expected renewed push for vouchers next year. Cepicky has listed Second Amendment rights, anti-abortion values and states rights as among his top priorities.

Ray Jeter, Republican

Ray Jeter, a retired chief deputy sheriff from the Maury County Sheriff's Department, was first elected to the county commission in 2022. Jeter refers to himself as a "pro-life," pro-Second Amendment conservative who advocates for smaller government. Jeter's legislative priorities include reforming the Tennessee Department of Children's services and making it easier for families to adopt, in addition to career and technical education for Tennessee youth.

Alex Pierce, Democrat

Alex Pierce, a Columbia native, is an activist who lists gun safety among his top priorities. A gun owner himself, Pierce believes the General Assembly should pass safe storage laws and walk back legislation that arms some teachers in Tennessee schools. Pierce opposes schools vouchers and supports increased public school funding, in addition to advocating for cannabis legalization.

Eileen H. Longstreet, Democrat

Eileen Longstreet, a retired health insurance executive, relocated home to Tennessee in 2018. Longstreet's legislative priorities include adequate education funding, raising teacher pay and homeowners' rights and protections. Longstreet supports expanding Medicaid access, lowering costs for the uninsured and pro-choice policies for women.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 65

House District 65 is up for grabs following the retirement of Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin. The district encompasses part of Williamson County.

Brian Beatherd, Republican

Brian Beatherd is a Williamson County commissioner and current chair of the commission. Beatherd opposes school vouchers, a defining issue of the 2024 election, arguing any voucher program would distribute Williamson County's "hard-earned tax dollars" to private schools. Beatherd pledged to secure "equitable" funding for Williamson County schools. Beatherd is critical of state overreach and prioritizes local control in his campaign platform. Second Amendment rights and immigration issues are among his campaign priorities. Outgoing Rep. Sam Whitson has endorsed Beatherd for the open seat.

Michelle Foreman, Republican

Michelle Foreman is a Franklin native and frequent Republican candidate for Middle Tennessee offices. Foreman's top-stated issue is closing Tennessee's open primaries, which allow people to vote in a political party primary without being a registered party member. At a recent local forum, she also said she would reject federal education funds for Tennessee schools. In 2022, Foreman unsuccessfully ran for the Tennessee House in District 59. Foreman last year was ordered to pay $100,000 in sanctions to former Metro Nashville council member Dave Rosenburg after she lost a defamation lawsuit against him.

Lee Reeves, Republican

Lee Reeves is a real estate lawyer whose pro-voucher education platform secured him an early endorsement from Gov. Bill Lee, who is backing voucher supporters in the 2024 elections ahead of a renewed voucher legislation push in 2025. Reeves lists Second Amendment rights and limited government among his top priorities.

LaRhonda Williams, Democrat

LaRhonda Williams is unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 65.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 68

District 68 is an open seat following the retirement of Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville. The district encompasses part of Montgomery County.

Carol Duffin, Republican

Carol Duffin first moved to the Clarksville area 25 years ago after her husband was stationed at Fort Campbell with the U.S. Army. If elected, Duffin said she will prioritize infrastructure improvements for the district. She also lists "parental rights" issues such as school choice, economic development and property rights issues among her top priorities.

Greg Gilman, Republican

Greg Gilman is a retired combat veteran and instructor pilot who first moved to Clarksville on an Army assignment. He is a reserve deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, where he also works as a director of the reserves program. Gilman supports term limits for General Assembly members and cites infrastructure and congestion as his number one issue to address if elected.

Aron Maberry, Republican

Aron Maberry, a Clarksville native, is a pastor at a Clarksville church and an elected member of the Clarksville-Montgomery County school board. Maberry lists infrastructure needs, Second Amendment rights and fiscal responsibility among his top issues. Maberry also supports school choice and Gov. Bill Lee's voucher program, and Lee has endorsed Maberry in the race.

Joe Smith, Republican

Joe Smith grew up in unincorporated Sango before joining the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Clarksville High School. Smith later served as a first responder with Clarksville Fire and Rescue before he was elected to the county commission. Smith would prioritize infrastructure upgrades to support the rapid growth of the area, Second Amendment rights while supporting education and training for responsible gun owners and support school choice options.

Garfield Scott, Democrat

Garfield Scott is unopposed in the Democratic primary in District 68.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 69

House District 69 includes Hickman, Lewis and part of Dickson counties.

Rep. Joseph M. "Jody" Barrett, R-Dickson

Incumbent Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, is seeking his second term in the General Assembly in House District 69. This year, Barrett sponsored legislation blocking local governments from establishing red flag gun laws. Barrett also cast vote against the final version of a large corporate tax refund this spring. Barrett's legislative priorities include 2nd Amendment rights, immigration enforcement and business development.

Ronny George, Republican

Ronny George is a former Hickman County commissioner. George has no campaign website and could not be reached for comment.

Tennessee State House of Representatives District 78

House District 78 includes Cheatham and part of Dickson counties.

Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson

Incumbent Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, is running for reelection in District 78. Littleton was first elected to the legislature in 2012 and currently chairs the children and family affairs subcommittee. On her campaign website, Littleton cites her support for immigration enforcement, business-friendly policies and human trafficking prevention training among her top issues. This year, Littleton sponsored legislation passed into law that would require teachers to potentially out transgender students to their families and codified protections for protections for anti-LGBTQ foster parents.

Justin Spurlock, Republican

Justin Spurlock, a teacher in Dickson County Schools, said his former career as a social worker and child abuse investigator informs his top legislative priority. If elected, Spurlock would work to strengthen child abuse laws and enforcement statutes. Spurlock lists Second Amendment rights, small business support and public schools investment among his top priorities.

Deborah Castle Doyle, Democrat

Deborah Castle Doyle is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 78.