Candidates for the Tennessee House seat in District 97 in Memphis are in a tight race as Election Day approaches. Incumbent Rep. John Gillespie is facing off against Democrat Jesse Huseth, with both candidates neck and neck in TV advertisement spending.
Gillespie, a two-term Republican, has received support from Republican House leaders and the Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee. However, Democrats, including a national fundraising committee, are rallying behind Huseth in an attempt to flip the seat.
According to campaign finance disclosures, Huseth holds a lead of roughly $24,000 over Gillespie. Gillespie reported receiving $69,200 in contributions during the third quarter, while Huseth raised nearly $89,400 during the same period.
Huseth has focused his campaign on issues such as increasing funding for public schools, establishing a new crime lab in Shelby County, and implementing safe storage measures for firearm owners. Gillespie, on the other hand, has emphasized his “tough on crime” positions and legislative record of supporting harsher punishments for certain crimes.
Both candidates have invested heavily in TV advertising, with Huseth spending $33,435 on spots with various stations while Gillespie closely followed behind with $32,035 in spending.
As the campaign enters its final days, the race remains highly competitive with both candidates vying for the support of voters in Cordova and East Memphis. It will be interesting to see which candidate comes out on top on Election Day.
Source
Photo credit tennesseelookout.com
