Incumbent Franklin Mayor Ken Moore wins re-election in a landslide over Nazi-affiliated Alderman Gabrielle Hanson

Franklin’s incumbent mayor, Ken Moore, has won re-election in a landslide victory over the scandal-plagued Alderman Gabrielle Hanson.

Moore received 12,822 votes in early, absentee and election day voting, while Hanson received 3,322.

Hanson gained national notoriety for her public association with a neo-Nazi group known as the Tennessee Active Club, whose members attended a candidate forum to support Hanson. Hanson refused to denounce them and claimed they were present to protect her from the left-wing, anti-fascist group Antifa. Hanson was also the real estate agent for local business owner Brad Lewis, a self-identified Nazi who allowed the Tennessee Active Club to train in a private gym above his gas station.

Earlier this year, the Franklin Ethics Commission found that Hanson had violated two separate provisions of the city’s municipal code by using her official email to pressure the president of the Nashville Airport Authority to withdraw financial support from a local Juneteenth celebration. Hanson has also drawn criticism for making unsupported claims about the Covenant School shooting as well as for her vocal opposition to Franklin’s annual Pride festival.

Moore has been the mayor of Franklin since 2011 and previously served as an alderman at large. In 2018, the Tennessee Municipal League awarded him Tennessee Mayor of the Year. While on the campaign trail, he said his top priorities for Franklin include growing the city’s workforce, adding housing and expanding the city’s transportation network, including sidewalks and trails.

In addition to the mayoral race, there were four alderman seats on the ballot: Clyde Barnhill ran unopposed for Position A; Brandy B. Blanton won Position B; Greg Caesar won Position C; and Ann Petersen won Position D, all by significant margins.