Today's midterm elections: what you need to know to vote
Lee University has served as a polling site in Bradley County since 2005, according to Bethany McCoy, director of community relations.
Lee Clarion Staff Photo
Today's midterm elections have been highly anticipated for months, but amidst all the clamor from pundits and pollsters and politicians, it's easy to lose track of why they've been given such importance.
Republicans currently control the majority in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. That could change this year, though, as the margins are slim and a number of key seats look like they could swing to the other side of the aisle.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested. On top of the legislative elections, 39 state and territorial governorships will be decided as well.
Those are big numbers, but for Lee students voting in Tennessee, there are only two statewide elections to keep track of—and the race for Senate is one of those key elections that might decide which party controls policy in this country.
With that in mind, here's what Lee student voters need to know about the candidates before going into the voting booths today.
U.S. Senate candidates
Marsha Blackburn (R)
Experience: U.S. House of Representatives
On the issues:
Immigration: pro-border wall
Abortion: pro-life
Gun ownership: anti-regulation
Environment: anti-regulation
Minimum wage: against raising
Supreme Court: pro-Kavanaugh
Religious freedom/gay rights: businesses should be allowed to withhold services from same-sex couples
Phil Bredesen (D)
Experience: former Tennessee governor
On the issues:
Immigration: anti-border wall
Abortion: pro-choice
Gun ownership: anti-regulation (with some exceptions)
Environment: unspecified
Minimum wage: for raising
Supreme Court: pro-Kavanaugh
Religious freedom/gay rights: businesses should not be allowed to withhold services from same-sex couples
Tennessee governor candidates
Bill Lee (R)
Experience: businessman
On the issues:
Education: increase emphasis on vocational/technical training
Opioid crisis: partner with providers and nonprofits and reward investments in prevention
Abortion: pro-life
Medicaid: against expansion
Rural Tennessee: increased broadband access and support of innovation and technology
Marijuana: against medical marijuana
Karl Dean (D)
Experience: former Nashville mayor
On the issues:
Education: increase teacher salary
Opioid crisis: support law enforcement and create public awareness campaign
Abortion: pro-choice
Medicaid: for expansion
Rural Tennessee: increased broadband access and investment in agriculture
Marijuana: for medical marijuana
Polls close today at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Find out where to vote here.
