Candidate Courtney Rogers thanks supporters at the Millersville Community Center after unseating one of the top Republicans in the state House Thursday.
A four-term member of the state House has been unseated by political newcomer Courtney Rogers who enjoyed the backing of the National Rifle Association. Incumbent Debra Maggart lost the seat after an outside campaign to defeat her.
Maggart became a target after she went along with Republican leadership and helped scuttle a bill allowing gun owners to store weapons in their car while at work.
The NRA and the Tennessee Firearms Association spent a combined $100,000 on ads attacking Maggart. They were ultimately effective, at least on Hendersonville voter Peggy Shoaf.
“You know I want to have my gun in my car if I want it in my car. It’s my car. It’s my gun.”
Shoaf voted instead for Rogers, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who won with 58 percent.
Tennessee Firearms director John Harris helped Rogers celebrate her victory over Maggart Thursday night.
“Unfortunately, it’s Maggart, who was a high school classmate of mine. But she became the one who would make the most significant example.”
Harris says he hopes Maggart’s defeat makes Republican lawmakers think twice on legislation that involves the Second Amendment.
Rogers says she doesn’t feel like she owes the NRA anything.
“I’m still going to analyze, ask questions and things like that, but we have a good start because I already have a propensity to agree with their philosophies.”
Rogers was encouraged to run against Maggart by her campaign manager Jeff Hartline. He spoke longer than the candidate did at her celebration.
“If the people take back what belongs to them, hopefully more and more folks who are sitting in positions of public service will pay better attention to what the people back home say.”
The 45th House district leans heavily Republican, but Rogers still has to face Democrat Jeanette Jackson in the general election.
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