Rep. Patsy Hazlewood Loses Tennessee House Seat
Chattanooga, TN – In a surprising turn of events, **Rep. Patsy Hazlewood** (R-Signal Mountain) was narrowly defeated in the Republican primary for the District 27 seat in the Tennessee House. **Michele Reneau** clinched the victory with 4,079 votes, just **over 100 votes** more than Hazlewood, who received 3,942 votes.
Tight Race in District 27
Hazlewood, a seasoned politician who chaired the **House Finance Ways and Means Committee**, had been a prominent figure since winning the seat in 2014. She had an extensive career in executive roles at AT&T and CapitalMark Bank and Trust, which is now Pinnacle Bank, and served as the Southeast Regional Director for the Tennessee Department of Economic Community Development.
Reneau, also of Signal Mountain, marketed herself as a more conservative choice, focusing her campaign primarily on **immigration issues**. Despite outspending Reneau, Hazlewood’s appeal fell short in the end.
District 10 Senate Race
In another closely watched race, **District 10 state Sen. Todd Gardenhire** (R-Chattanooga) defeated **Ed LeCompte** with a significant margin, garnering **5,320 votes to LeCompte’s 1,086**. Gardenhire, who chairs the **House Judiciary Committee**, campaigned as a supporter of **small government**. LeCompte, a former Red Bank City commissioner, ran as a **constitutional conservative**. The decisive victory indicates a strong preference among Republicans for Gardenhire’s leadership style.
Statements from the Candidates
Reflecting on his win ahead of official results, Gardenhire remarked, **”This goes to show you that the Republicans chose the type of person they want to lead them going into the next four years. The voters of the 10th District defined what a Republican is, overwhelmingly, and that is Todd Gardenhire.”**
District 28 House Race
Meanwhile, in District 28, incumbent **Rep. Yusuf Hakeem** (D-Chattanooga) secured his position by defeating Chattanooga City Council member **Demetrus Coonrod**. **Hakeem received 3,165 votes** compared to **Coonrod’s 1,832**. This marks a significant victory for Hakeem, who has held his seat since 2017 when he regained it from Coonrod.
Hakeem’s Reflective Remarks
Celebrating his victory, Hakeem stated, **”She pushed us. We left no stone unturned.”** He was seen rejoicing with members of the **Hamilton County Democratic Party** shortly after early leads pointed to his success.
Coonrod’s Next Steps
Coonrod, although not officially conceding, expressed her frustrations and future plans. **”This election cycle was more than a mere race between two candidates; it was a profound struggle against broader systemic challenges,”** she shared. **”Our commitment never wavered, and surrender was never considered an option.”**
Other Local Races
In House District 29, **Rep. Greg Vital** (R-Harrison) ran unchallenged in the primary and will face Democrat **Ryan Scofield** in November. Similarly, in House District 30, incumbent **Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes** (R-East Ridge) will compete against Democrat **Heather McClendon** in the general election.
The Path Ahead
*It’s worth noting that members of the state legislature are usually sworn in during the first week of January. These part-time positions come with salaries just under $28,400, supplemented by additional stipends for maintaining a district office and travel expenses.*
*The landscape of Tennessee politics continues to shift, and the upcoming general election in November promises to be a pivotal moment for the representation of districts like 27 and 28. Stay tuned for more updates as the political narrative unfolds.*
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