Sam Stockard
Reporter
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
There are 1058 articles by Sam Stockard :
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October 2018
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State Government The Shelby County Democratic Party is defending District 31 Senate candidate Gabby Salinas against an attack ad by the lieutenant governor’s PAC, calling it “false” and a “mischaracterization.” -
State Government Blackburn claims women’s voices ‘shredded’ during Bredesen administration
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn kept up her relentless attack on former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in their final debate Wednesday night, accusing him of running a governor’s office soft on sexual harassment. -
State Government Democrats say Shelby County Schools covering for McCormick
The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus is challenging Shelby County Schools, accusing the system of stonewalling on an open records request to keep it from finding out how many meetings Republican board member Scott McCormick failed to attend. -
State Government Even in East Tennessee, gubernatorial candidates keep Memphis on the mind
Memphis is about a nine-hour drive from Kingsport, but the city’s major topics were still on the minds of Tennessee’s two top gubernatorial candidates in the second gubernatorial debate, an East Tennessee event in which they sparred a bit for the first time. -
State Government Bredesen’s quandary gives points to Blackburn
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Marsha Blackburn must have been sitting back laughing as she pounded former Gov. Phil Bredesen for postponing his stance on the Kavanaugh nomination. -
State Government Lieutenant governor’s PAC spending $300,000 to bolster Kelsey against Democrat Salinas
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally’s PAC is pouring $300,000 into an ad campaign against Democratic Senate candidate Gabby Salinas, signaling a tight race for incumbent Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey in Memphis’ District 31. -
State Government Memphis legislator criticizes Hopson’s endorsement of Lee
A Memphis legislator is castigating Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dorsey Hopson’s decision to endorse Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee, saying it “confuses” a tough situation. -
State Government Gubernatorial candidates criticize Legislature’s retribution on Memphis
Tennessee’s two main gubernatorial candidates disagree with the Legislature’s move to strip funding from Memphis this year and punish the city for its role in removing Confederate monuments from parks. -
State Government Bredesen would vote for Kavanaugh confirmation despite Ford allegations
U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen – in a long-awaited response – said Friday, Oct. 5, he would vote for Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court even amid sexual assault allegations against the judge. -
State Government Democrat invites to economic meeting rile some Republicans
Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald is among Republican leaders balking at a nonpartisan West Tennessee Economic Development Caucus event for two Democratic statewide candidates in Jackson. -
State Government Dean would push Memphis’ role as ‘mighty asset’
Memphis might not have legalized gambling like neighboring states, but Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean says he’s willing to “bet” on a bright outlook here. -
State Government Gubernatorial candidates disagree on education approach
Tennessee’s gubernatorial candidates say they will make education the focal point of their administration, but they have vastly different views on how to do it. -
State Government Lee, Dean sound off on TBI investigations, guns in Memphis during first debate
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean and Republican Bill Lee drew distinctions on the question of automatic TBI investigations into police-involved shootings in their first debate Tuesday at the University of Memphis. -
State Government Boyd’s gubernatorial campaign haunts UT presidency vote
Randy Boyd probably knows the age-old sermon about reaping what you sow by heart. -
State Government Bredesen supports FBI investigation of Kavanaugh allegations
U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen is backing an FBI investigation of the sexual assault accusations against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh but still not saying how he would vote. -
State Government Stage set for Memphis gubernatorial debate
Memphis plays host Tuesday to Tennessee’s first 2018 gubernatorial debate, a chance for voters to see Republican candidate Bill Lee and Democratic candidate Karl Dean together for a rare occasion answering questions about state issues. -
State Government Blackburn, Bredesen hold opposite views on endorsements
Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is piling up conservative endorsements in the race for a U.S. Senate seat while former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is downplaying the importance of such support, possibly a strategic move to garner moderate backers.
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September 2018
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State Government Blackburn, Bredesen hammer each other in first debate
Marsha Blackburn and Phil Bredesen didn’t waste any time getting after each other in their first U.S. Senate debate. -
State Government UT names Boyd interim president despite opposition
Randy Boyd didn’t vault into a new job as the University of Tennessee interim president without opposition Tuesday. -
State Government Bredesen says during debate he won’t vote for Schumer
Former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said during the first U.S. Senate debate Tuesday night he would not vote for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer if elected, shrugging off criticism from U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn that he would be in the liberal New Yorker’s pocket. -
State Government State leaders ignore calls to drop out of Obamacare lawsuit
A Christian group pleading with Tennessee leaders to drop out of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act could be compared to a tree falling in the forest. -
State Government Gubernatorial candidates take on vocational training
Pointing toward Tennessee’s failure to attract a major automotive plant to the Memphis Regional Megasite, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean is backing better and more accessible workforce development statewide. -
Education Shelby County Schools nets $4 million for school safety, security
Shelby County Schools will receive nearly $4 million this year and smaller systems across the county will net tens of thousands of dollars as part of Tennessee’s Safe Schools Act. -
State Government Blackburn, Bredesen pull off the gloves in Senate race
The battle to fill Tennessee’s open U.S. Senate seat is turning into a free-for-all before the Nov. 6 election. -
State Government Lee misses forum; Memphis gubernatorial debate set Oct. 2
Less than two weeks before an Oct. 2 gubernatorial debate set for Memphis, Republican candidate Bill Lee missed an MTSU Gubernatorial Luncheon & Forum in Murfreesboro on Thursday, Sept. 20.
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