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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A Conservative lawmaker is running a bill to prohibit out-of-state political action committees (PACs) from influencing primary elections in GOP races in Tennessee.
Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) is sponsoring Senate Bill 1040 (SB1040) which seeks to put an end to the practice of PACs that are headquartered in other states from making contributions, including in-kind contributions, to candidates in a state primary elections, specifically in Republican races.
According to the bill, a “statewide political party” means “the statewide political party in control of both houses of the general assembly on July 1st, 2025.”
The bill is being sponsored by Representative Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville-District 54) in the House.
Millions of dollars from out-of-state groups were poured into promoting pro-school choice voucher candidates in several primary contests in 2024.
PACs that supported Governor Bill Lee’s “school choice” plan ran a slew of negative campaign ads that targeted lawmakers who were against the private school entitlement program that has since passed following a special session that wrapped up last week.
Much of the money came by way of the School Freedom Fund, which spent $8.8 million in Texas to defeat 10 incumbent Republicans who were opposed to the voucher program in their state.
School Freedom Fund President David McIntosh said last year in a statement, “If you call yourself a Republican and oppose school freedom, you should expect to lose your next primary.”
The infusion of funds from the super PAC, with ties to Club for Growth’s billionaire Jeff Yass, into attack ads led to Conservative lawmakers Senator Frank Niceley, of Strawberry Plains, and state Representative Bryan Richey, of Maryville (running for the Senate seat of retiring Senator Art Swann) losing their respective primaries.
When The Tennessee Conservative reached out to Bowling last night to ask why she was running the bill, Bowling called it a “no brainer” and referred to the fact that the United States is a constitutional republic.
Bowling said that the people the lawmakers represent in districts “should have the loudest voice” over PACs who are not based in Tennessee.
With regard to the bill applying only to the controlling political party, which for now is the Republican Party, Bowling said that she would welcome an amendment from the Democratic party that would apply the legislation to both Republicans and Democrats alike.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
