MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The major takeaway from the midterm election is that we live in an evenly – and some might say hopelessly—divided country.
Everywhere, that is, except in the Mid-South, the projected red wave that was supposed to sweep Republicans into Senate and gubernatorial seats currently held by Democrats – never materialized. That’s because many Republican candidates were far too extreme for the national electorate. But in Tennessee and Arkansas, at least, it was GOP business as usual.
Incumbent Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee cruised to victory in a race that was called for him mere minutes after the polls closed. In Arkansas, Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders won easily to become that state’s first woman governor.
So, as the rest of the country was on pins and needles last night as results were pouring in, nothing around here elicited any excitement. That was just fine for Republicans – who continue to maintain absolute dominance in the Tennessee legislature and the governor’s office. The question now is, what’s next politically for Gov. Lee? He won reelection comfortably, but so did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and DeSantis, not Lee, has far more national aspirations.
So as Lee prepares for his second term, here’s hoping that he understands why most Shelby County voters supported his Democratic opponent. Hopefully he’ll do a better job addressing the needs of Tennessee’s largest county because we deserve no less.