SAM STOCKARD

Sam Stockard

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Sam Stockard is a reporter at the Tennessee Lookout. He is veteran Tennessee reporter and editor, having written for the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, where he served as lead editor when the paper won an award for being the state's best Sunday newspaper two years in a row. He has led the Capitol Hill bureau for The Daily Memphian. His awards include Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association.

Stockard on the Stump: It’s not debatable, Blackburn shifting for money
Tennessee

Stockard on the Stump: It’s not debatable, Blackburn shifting for money

Jul 17, 2026
Sam Stockard
As early voting begins in Tennessee’s gubernatorial primary election, frontrunning U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn appears to think she has the Republican race wrapped while simultaneously showing signs of paranoia. Blackburn is set to hold a fundraising reception Aug. 26 in...
Chattanooga state-appointed airport board withdraws from lawsuit
Tennessee

Chattanooga state-appointed airport board withdraws from lawsuit

Jul 16, 2026
Sam Stockard
A state-appointed airport board in Chattanooga voted Thursday to withdraw from a city lawsuit filed to avert a state takeover. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that five of nine board members present at a meeting voted unanimously to pull...
Tennessee GOP gubernatorial hopefuls split on private-school vouchers
Tennessee

Tennessee GOP gubernatorial hopefuls split on private school vouchers

Jul 15, 2026
Sam Stockard
Tennessee’s three top Republican gubernatorial candidates are miles apart on expanding the state’s main private-school voucher program. The race’s dark-horse candidate, state Rep. Monty Fritts of Kingston, opposes expanding both the Education Freedom Scholarship and the Education Savings Account programs...
Republican gubernatorial candidates disagree on death penalty methods
Tennessee

Republican gubernatorial candidates disagree on death penalty methods

Jul 14, 2026
Sam Stockard
Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is ready to activate the modern iteration of “Old Sparky” as Tennessee grapples with lethal injection protocol for executions. Tennessee’s electric chair held that moniker until it was retired in 1989 and another...
Metro Nashville, new state airport board battle for authority
Tennessee

Metro Nashville, new state airport board battle for authority

Jul 07, 2026
Sam Stockard
Metro Nashville is dueling with a new state-appointed airport board over who has control under a recent state law. The state-appointed board voted Monday to withdraw the Metro Nashville Airport Authority from a lawsuit filed by Metro Nashville and its...
Dixie, Copeland square off in Democratic primary for redrawn 7th District
Tennessee

Dixie, Copeland square off in Democratic primary for redrawn 7th District

Jul 06, 2026
Sam Stockard
In a race to capture the newly-drawn 7th Congressional District seat in Tennessee, state Rep. Vincent Dixie and businessman Darden Copeland are taking slightly different strategies in the Democratic primary with the ultimate goal of unseating the Republican incumbent. Dixie...
Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee Republicans keep pushing for execution transparency
Tennessee

Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee Republicans keep pushing for execution transparency

Jul 03, 2026
Sam Stockard
Yet another Tennessee Republican lawmaker is pressuring Gov. Bill Lee’s administration for a full accounting of a botched execution before the state attempts to put another person to death. State Rep. Jody Barrett of Dickson, a thorn in the side...
Tennessee Democrats revive push on “Pot for Potholes”
Tennessee

Tennessee Democrats revive push on “Pot for Potholes”

Jul 01, 2026
Sam Stockard
As Tennessee’s new ban on popular hemp products takes effect Wednesday, two Democratic lawmakers are reigniting a drive to legalize marijuana and use the proceeds to patch craters in highways across the state. The “ Pot for Potholes Act ,”...
Tennessee GOP senators seek review of botched execution
Tennessee

Tennessee GOP senators seek review of botched execution

Jun 29, 2026
Sam Stockard
A group of Tennessee Republican senators is urging the governor to commission an independent review of a failed execution and correct any problems before the state attempts another execution. In a demand for “full transparency and accountability” from the Department...
Stockard on the Stump: Senators say no state House, Senate redistricting on their radar
Tennessee

Stockard on the Stump: Senators say no state House, Senate redistricting on their radar

Jun 26, 2026
Sam Stockard
Two key Tennessee senators say the legislature won’t redraw state House and Senate districts next year, despite a high court decision clearing the way for new maps without minority-majority requirements. Lawmakers just approved new congressional districts for Tennessee in one...
Tennessee increases private-school voucher vendor contract by $356M
Tennessee

Tennessee increases private-school voucher vendor contract by $356M

Jun 25, 2026
Sam Stockard
Tennessee lawmakers are giving a $356 million raise to the company handling the state’s two private-school voucher programs, despite the vendor’s woes in two other states. The legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee approved the increase Wednesday, pushing the maximum contract amount...
Former congressman squares off with state House member in 6th District GOP primary
Tennessee

Former congressman squares off with state House member in 6th District GOP primary

Jun 24, 2026
Sam Stockard
State Rep. Johnny Garrett and former Congressman Van Hilleary are running as Trump-supporting candidates in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District seat that was redrawn dramatically this year. Neither has differentiated themselves from the other, Garrett claiming to...