Cohen endorses Smiley in Democratic primary for governor
Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., speaks to members of the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. speaks at an event announcing his bid for governor of Tennessee at the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 8, 2021. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis is out with an early endorsement of Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
In a statement released Tuesday, Oct. 12, by Smiley’s campaign, Cohen touted Smiley’s connection to the state’s major cities.
“Having a governor who understands the needs and importance of the cities as well as the towns is of importance for benefits to be extended equitably,” Cohen said in the statement.
The early field for the August 2022 statewide Democratic primary includes Nashville physician Dr. Jason Martin and North Memphis activist Carnita Atwater as well as Casey Nicholson, a Presbyterian minister from Greeneville.
Gov. Bill Lee is seeking re-election in the Republican primary and faces a primary challenge from Curtis Carney of Cottontown, who owns a party bus business that operates in Nashville and other cities.
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2022 Governor's race Steve Cohen JB Smiley Jr.Bill Dries on demand
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Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
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