Abortion, education and a tight District 5 race brought Nashville voters to the polls

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s midterm election could be down this year, with political observers noting Tennessee’s lack of competitive contests. Still, some voters weren’t settling for straight party-line decisions.

Abhi Saxena is a Nashville physician who lives in the new 5th Congressional District. He had a difficult time choosing between Democrat Heidi Campbell and Republican Andy Ogles — but appreciated having a real choice to make. 

“Politicians that have to earn people’s votes tend to act differently than ones that can take votes for granted, so I think it’s good,” Saxena said. “Every district should be competitive and have two good candidates, or more.”

That seat — which previously included all of Nashville, had long been held by retiring Democrat Jim Cooper. Republican redistricting redrew that Democratic stronghold, and Nashville is now split across three districts that include neighboring suburbs and rural areas. 

In Southeast Nashville, Aaron Schafer-Haiss, his wife, Michaela Ann, and their daughter, Georgia, rode their bikes to Lakeview Elementary School to vote Tuesday morning.

Georgia is just about to start daycare, but it won’t be long until it’s time for her to go to school. Aaron says it was important for him to vote for progressive candidates that align with his values on education.

“Voting for Georgia’s future and a planet that is sustainable for her and habitable,” he said. “We’re both very strong proponents of public education, and believe that that institution should be available to everybody and it should be high quality.”

Along with education, Michaela Ann adds that reproductive healthcare is top of mind for her.

“We have one child. But the thought of trying to have a second child is honestly terrifying. In the state of Tennessee and many states in the country of just what could happen if you need care, and it’s now a legal issue. So those are huge, huge factors in this election.”

Abortion rights also motivated Nashville resident Kevin Campbell. He gave his assessment of the District 5 candidates while standing next to his wife. 

“Heidi — she said a woman’s body is her own body. Andy’s saying, ‘I’m going to abolish abortion.’ That should be your right, her right. It shouldn’t be a man’s right,” he said. “That’s what I think.”

Concerns about the economy motivated some, like Deanie Craig, of Smyrna. She says she’d like to see Republicans take charge in Washington.

“There’s my issue: keep my head afloat where we don’t sink and wind up sitting in the gutter somewhere too … and you’re lucky to pay your bills sometimes.”

In Franklin, independent voter Nicolas Ryan says he’s moved away from Democratic candidates because they’ve prioritized social issues too much.

“It makes me a little bit emotional because I feel like they’ve moved away from me. You know what I’m saying, I don’t feel like I’ve moved away from them, and I’m left politically homeless,” he said. “Their priorities … ya know, Bill Clinton said it in the 90s: ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ “