Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to run for Congress
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Megan Bary on the campaign trail in 2024. Photo: courtesy of Barry's 2024 campaign.
Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulled a petition this week to run for Tennessee's newly redrawn District 6 U.S. House seat as candidates in both parties scramble to respond to the new congressional map.
Why it matters: Potential candidates only have a few days to decide to run following the last-minute shakeup from Tennessee Republicans.
Catch up quick: Republicans raced to draw new district boundaries last week that eliminate Tennessee's only solidly blue district in Memphis. The gerrymandered map splits Memphis between three districts and also shifts borders in Nashville.
- Candidates who already qualified for the Aug. 6 primary ballot were drawn into new districts.
The big picture: Democrats are suing to stop the new map from taking effect, but they're simultaneously strategizing over which candidates should run for which seats.
State of play: The deadline for candidates to file to run in the new districts is Friday. (A new state law allows candidates to represent any House district — they don't have to live there.)
Flashback: Barry was a popular first-term mayor before a scandal in 2018 led to her resignation and knocked her political career off course.
- She's maintained influence in Nashville politics and younger candidates frequently seek out her advice.
- Barry ran unsuccessfully for the District 7 U.S. House seat in 2024.
Zoom out: Nashville Councilmember Jacob Kupin, state Rep. Vincent Dixie and former candidate Darden Copeland pulled petitions to run in the new District 7 represented by U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps.
Reality check: Potential candidates sometimes pull papers to run for office but then decide against it.
- Barry tells Axios she hopes the legal challenge is successful, but is "taking a serious look" at running in the meantime.
- "After Republicans shamelessly changed the rules in the middle of an election year, we owe it to ourselves as Democrats to fight back," she says.
Friction point: Before redistricting this month, Tennessee was on track for two competitive Democratic House primaries.
- Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder was set to face off against Nashville Councilmember Mike Cortese for the District 5 Democratic nomination.
- Incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was facing a challenge from state Rep. Justin Pearson in District 9.