In Deep Red Tennessee, Voters in Nashville Stick With Progressive in Mayoral Race

Winner Freddie O’Connell will be the fourth mayor in five years after turmoil in the past several administrations.

Freddie O'Connell, who recently won his election to become mayor of Nashville, Tenn. Courtesy of Freddie O'Connell Campaign

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Voters in Nashville, a Democrat stronghold within the confines of deep red Tennessee, chose to elect the progressive candidate over the conservative candidate in a Thursday, Sept. 14, runoff election for mayor.

Despite a Vanderbilt University poll from earlier this year that indicated more than half of Nashvillians believed the city was headed in the wrong direction, voters chose the candidate with political views similar to the current mayor rather than voting for a major shakeup.