Right-to-Work Amendment Passes All 95 Counties, Lee Wins Big

November 10, 2022

Small business won big in the Nov. 8 elections

Right-to-Work Amendment Passes All 95 Counties, Lee Wins Big

Election Day in Tennessee was a great day for small business! Amendment 1 passed with 70% of the vote (1.14 million in favor), easily clearing the necessary threshold by more than 271,000 votes. All 95 counties approved the measure in strong bipartisan fashion. Once certified by the Secretary of State, our 75-year right-to-work law will be enshrined in the state constitution. Read more about it here. “This added protection for workers would not have happened without the tremendous grassroots, media, and financial support from hundreds of NFIB members and legislative friends across the state,” NFIB State Director Jim Brown said. “Our members and their employees believe in worker freedom, not forced unionization, and we’re delighted voters agreed and gave this fundamental Tennessee value the extra protection it deserves.” Nov. 8 was also a great day for Gov. Bill Lee, who was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term. An NFIB member, Lee won with 66% of the more than 1.7 million votes cast. Little changed elsewhere. There were almost no upsets in state races, and Republicans will maintain a supermajority in both chambers. Incumbent John Mark Windle, who changed from Democrat to Independent this year, was bested by businessman Ed Butler in HD 41, the most notable upset from the night. In all, 24 NFIB members won on Election Day, and 84 of 88 NFIB TN PAC-endorsed candidates won. In the newly drawn Congressional District 5, Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles defeated state Sen. Heidi Campbell, giving Tennessee Republicans an 8-1 advantage in the U.S. House. Meanwhile, all seven U.S. House incumbents endorsed by the NFIB Federal PAC won reelection including two NFIB members, Rep. Diana Harshbarger (District 1) and Rep. John Rose (District 6).

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