Johnny Garrett Leads Tennessee GOP Primary for U.S. House 6th District

State Representative Johnny Garrett, the House Republican whip, is ahead in the Tennessee Republican primary for the U.S. House 6th Congressional District, holding about 38% of the vote with only a fraction of ballots counted. The race is an open‑seat contest after incumbent Rep. John Rose announced a gubernatorial bid. Garrett faces former Rep. Van Hilleary, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, while Garrett has backing from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and other Tennessee GOP leaders. The district, a Republican stronghold since 2011, is expected to remain under GOP control in the general election. Garrett’s campaign has raised over $2.3 million, much of it in personal loans, and he emphasizes issues such as immigration enforcement and opposition to gender‑affirming health care.