On election night (11/05/24), look for an upset in House District 18 where Democrat Bryan Goldberg is challenging one-term Republican state Rep. Elaine Davis. Why?

Knox County Democrats have targeted this district as the one most likely to flip, and they’ve got a good ground game; Republicans don’t. Democrats have computer lists of likely voters and volunteers who visit or otherwise contact them.

The Ds target a district and deploy human and financial assets there. Republican nominees are left alone, to raise funds and structure a campaign. It seems Davis’s campaign is coming out of Nashville.

The most recent mailer, paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party, pictures the eyes of Goldberg and asks why he is hiding. It set up Goldberg to smash back like this:

“I sat by myself on Inside Tennessee with WBIR, the South Knoxville Business Association Forum, the League of Women Voters Forum, the United Campus Workers Forum and am the only candidate in this race at countless community events.

“I’m not hiding, but I know who is.”

Elaine Davis

Bryan Goldberg

Bryan Goldberg’s website is here. Elaine Davis is using a Facebook page here. Davis talks more about events than issues.

Money: Goldberg’s financial disclosure shows a $1,500 contribution from Joan Ashe (niece of the late Wanda Moody and wife of former Mayor Victor Ashe). And today (10/23/24), Goldberg picked up endorsements from Janet Testerman (Janet Testerman letter) and former Rep. Eddie Mannis (Eddie Mannis letter). It seems a segment of Republicans is peeling off to support Goldberg.

Davis’s disclosure shows a $2,000 donation from TN Right to Life and another $1,000 from former state Rep. Bill Dunn.

Legislative record: Davis made a rookie mistake by introducing 25 bills, most withdrawn or stuck in committee. Look at her bills and decide if she even understands some of them like HB 1279 – a technical bill that changes how a “metropolitan government” handles the privilege tax on a convention center. Say what?!?

Davis introduced H.B. 1099 to repeal early voting; then withdrew it eight days later. She also introduced and passed H.B. 0817, legislation that overrode the Knoxville City Charter to require council members to be nominated and elected from districts without running citywide in the general election. For most city voters, it’s a no-brainer. Do you want to vote for four or nine members of city council? Davis, meanwhile, lives outside the city.

House District 18 has had its share of short-termers – from construction guy Steve Hall to billboard guy Martin Daniel to HonorAir guy Eddie Mannis to Davis. Because of its relative instability, the district is raided for parts during redistricting. The term “all over the map” was made for District 18, which ranges from West Hills and Cedar Bluff to South Knox County. See map here.

There is more to say, but let’s save it for another time.

Sandra Clark is the founder of KnoxTNToday.com