On the Issue of Politics with Dr. Lauren Harding

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Lauren Harding, Associate Professor of Political Science at Tennessee Tech University. In this episode: For the first time in eight years, Tennesseans are picking a new governor. Early voting started last week and we have eleven days until Marsha Blackburn faces off against Jerri Green on November 3. Assuming a party candidate wins, in two weeks Tennessee will have its first female governor. Do you think Blackburn and Green as candidates are shaping how voters think about this race, or is it background noise to our greater political landscape? Thirteen Independents are running in the Governor's race for TN. Currently, polling has (I) David Hatley anywhere from 10% - 20% on favorability and (I) Lauren Pinkston anywhere from 2% - 5%. How does the Independent vote and their candidates change this race? What is an Independent voter in 2026? Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race here in two decades, and Al Gore’s 1990 re-election was the last Senate win for a Democrat in Tennessee. What has the Tennessee GOP done well to build and hold that coalition, and what would realistically have to change for a statewide race to become competitive again? Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Important Putnam County (2026 Federal and State Election) Dates and information: Federal and State Elections will be held on November 3rd with early voting from October 14th to October 29th. All early voting for Putnam County voters takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com