Members of the General Assembly are going down to the wire collecting campaign contributions. Fundraising is forbidden during the annual legislative session, which starts Tuesday at noon. And some lawmakers found out just last week they’ll have to run against an incumbent to keep their own seat.
For the last two election cycles, state Senator Jim Kyle has run unopposed. The Democratic leader has spent his time fundraising for other members of his party through his political action committee.
“I have spent more of my time these last eight years raising money for Kyle PAC than I have Jim Kyle.”
But now Kyle needs the contributions, telling supporters ahead of the deadline that it will take money to “introduce” himself to new voters. Kyle’s Memphis seat has been redrawn as part of redistricting and he will likely face Republican state Senator Brian Kelsey in the fall.
Two other state senators and a dozen House members could also be forced to run against incumbents.
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