![]() So far, the candidates have focused on criticizing Lee rather than attacking one another due to largely sharing similar policy positions. “It will cause the Democratic Party to rise up again and say you know what, we’re right on the issues.” “Teachers are angry, women are angry, young people are angry and that anger turns to action and activism,” Smiley said. Smiley says he's hoping to capitalize on the simmering voter outrage by not shying away from his Democratic Party affiliation he feels past candidates have done to woo those uneasy backing a Democratic hopeful. “But what we talk about is leadership, and COVID was an example of failed leadership, a fend-for-yourself approach by the governor.” “I’m just as tired of COVID as everybody else, believe me,” Martin said in an interview with The Associated Press, noting the 26,000-plus COVID deaths tallied in the state. Martin said Lee's handling of COVID illustrates a broader context of leadership deficiencies - from not speaking up while on stage during the controversial comments on teachers, to declining to veto a bill that imposes harsher sentencing, despite his focus on the need for criminal justice reform. Some of those include the ongoing fallout of the elimination of constitutional abortion rights and recent comments disparaging teachers by a charter school operator for whom Lee wants to help set up dozens of schools in the state. ![]() They've had to adjust as Lee's hands-off approach to the pandemic went from top-of-mind to a lesser priority, given the public's fatigue over COVID-19 issues and the rise of other imminent controversies. The Democratic field rounds out with Carnita Atwater, a former nurse and community leader in Memphis. JB Smiley, a Black city councilman and attorney in Memphis, is vying for the nomination as well. Jason Martin, a critical care physician from Nashville, announced his bid for governor as a lead critic of Lee's COVID-19 pandemic approach. Even in the most tumultuous times, Lee has continued to poll strong and positioned himself for reelection, with little expectation that voters would start changing course from the GOP now.
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