(The Center Square) – State Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, is leading in the first poll for Tennessee’s special 7th District congressional race, but the majority of those surveyed are still undecided.
Americans for Prosperity’s Tennessee chapter sponsored the poll of 500 likely voters who were questioned between Aug. 19 and Saturday. The poll shows more than 57% of respondents are still undecided. Barrett garnered 10.1% of the yes votes, followed by state Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, (8.9%) and Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin (7.9%).
Matt Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, was fourth with 7%. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who resigned his position in July, has endorsed Van Epps.
Behind Van Epps are Jason D. Knight with 2.9% of the positive responses, Charles Garfield Wittrum with 1.9%, Stewart Cooper with 1.4% and Adolf Agbeko Dagan with 1.2%. Stewart Parks, Mason Foley and Joe Leurs each received less than 1%.
Barrett, Bulso and Reeves have qualified for a Sept. 5 debate sponsored by Americans for Prosperity. The candidates must show they have raised $250,000 by Friday to participate, according to the organization. Mike Lofti, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation of Tennessee, said he expects other candidates to qualify.
“With the top four Republican primary candidates all being separated by a single point each and all inside the margin of error, our poll shows the state of the race is wide open and essentially tied,” Lofti said. “I think people will be paying a lot of attention to this debate, as it’s the largest opportunity so far for candidates to directly address the public and show what differentiates them.”
The Republican primary is Oct. 7, and the general election is Dec. 2. Early voting in the primary begins Sept. 17. The district covers 14 counties in middle Tennessee.
Lofti will moderate the Sept. 5 debate with SuperTalk 99.7 WTN’s Matt Murphy. It will be held at the CabaRay Showroom in Nashville.
