Jack Johnson defeats Gary Humble in Williamson County Senate race
Tennessee’s Republican leadership faced one of its toughest primary challenges in years on Thursday and prevailed.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, defeated conservative activist Gary Humble in Thursday’s primary election.
With 99% of precincts reporting Johnson won 51.6% of the vote, while Humble garnered 48.4%.
“I’ve represented Williamson County for 16 years. I don’t apologize for that. I don’t apologize for being the incumbent,” Johnson told nearly 100 supporters at The Factory in Franklin.
“It’s really quite simple,” he said. “Conservative principals work every time they’re tried and we’ve demonstrated that in Tennessee and now that you’ve given me the opportunity to serve again, I’m going to continue to demonstrate that for the next four years.”
Humble rose to prominence during the early parts of the coronavirus pandemic for his strong stances against mask mandates and closures to the local economy.
Related:Republican leadership faces conservative test in Williamson County Senate race
He founded the conservative group Tennessee Stands, which has morphed into Humble’s bully pulpit to attack state Republicans for not being conservative enough.
As the second most powerful Republican in the state Senate, this race became a referendum not just on Johnson, but Republican leadership.
Johnson had the backing of nearly every prominent state Republican, including Gov. Bill Lee, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.
This was the first primary opponent Johnson has ever faced in any of his reelection efforts since he was initially elected in 2006.
Like many of the Republican races throughout the Tennessee, the campaign turned decisively negative in the final weeks.
Johnson tried to paint Humble as “anti-business,” while Humble focused his criticism on Johnson’s ties to what he called “special-interests.”
Johnson does not face an opponent in the Nov. 8 general election.
Adam Friedman is The Tennessean’s state government and politics reporter. Reach him by email at [email protected].
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