The Tennessee Star learned that the far-left Tennessee Education Association (TEA) is distributing the same mailed literature piece recently targeting Democrat voters and encouraging them to vote for Jeff Eby in the House District (HD) 69 Republican race and other August 4 Republican district primaries.
In addition to promoting Eby’s bid, the TEA mailed the same exact piece in the HD 13 and Senate District (SD) 9 Republican primaries.
Gabriel Fancher received the TEA endorsement in the HD 13 race and was the beneficiary of the mail piece promotion.
State Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) received the TEA endorsement in the SD 9 race, and the same piece was additionally sent out in support of him.
The Star previously reported the content of the mail piece, with the only difference being the names, identifying title, and whether the word “elect” or “re-elect” was used in the promotion. Eby, Fancher, and Briggs’ names have been used interchangeably.
It says on one side, “In the fights ahead, we need [candidate] as our state representative.”
One bullet point targets school choice, saying, “Fighting vouchers and charters: [candidate] will fight out-of-state interest groups and stop the push for rural and suburban charter schools against Tennessee.
Another bullet point says [candidate] will oppose parents’ rights and legislation aimed at eliminating Critical Race Theory in the classrooms and grooming children.
It says, “Stop attacks on what and how we teach: [candidate] knows Tennessee teachers are the experts on what our students need and teach the state standards with fidelity. [Candidate] will stand up to the ‘reformers’ who have run amok with high-stakes testing and attacks on our professional integrity.”
On the other side, the mail piece says, “in the Republican primary, vote [candidate].”
The mail piece continues with a message that several political consultants, on the condition of background, say targets Democrats.
“State law says you can vote in the GOP primary,” it says. “Low turnout means your vote has a huge impact. To win the big fights we need to win this election! Stand up for our schools and ourselves: Vote!”
“That’s exactly the language I’d use if I were trying to get Democrats to vote in a Republican primary,” one political consultant with 20 years of experience said.
The piece adds in bold letters, “Vote like your school depends on it. It does!”
The TEA logo is featured prominently on both sides of the piece. The piece does not appear to contain the proper disclaimer.
The Star previously reported that the TEA is a teachers’ union, and is a division of the National Education Association (NEA).
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Gabriel Fancher (Left)” by Gabriel Fancher. Photo “Jeff Eby (Center)” by Jeff Eby. Photo “Richard Briggs (Right)” by Richard Briggs.
