Three Tennessee Governor Candidates Meet at MTSU Forum

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Davidson County Herald) - Three candidates running for governor appeared at a forum at Middle Tennessee State University on Tuesday night, while Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn campaigned elsewhere in the state.

Democratic nominee Jerri Green and independent candidates David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston took part in the forum, which the Tennessee Press Association and Middle Tennessee State University hosted. Blackburn received an invitation but did not attend.

Blackburn instead held an event in Hendersonville to rally support for herself and other Republicans on Tennessee's ballot. State Rep. William Lamberth, Matt Van Epps, Glenn Jacobs, Johnny Garrett and Enes Kanter Freedom also spoke there. Blackburn answered questions from media outlets afterward. Asked why she did not attend the forum with the other three candidates, she said, "We have met people where they are. We have had dozens of meetings with people all across the state. We have knocked on a million doors. We have done tens of thousands of phone calls, and as you can see, we had a room-full here tonight."

Tennessee voters will choose a new governor on Tuesday, November 3, the first open contest for the office in eight years.