Case Study: 2018 TN HD-13

Rep. Gloria Johnson

Stanford Campaigns’ research exposed opponent’s absence as a legislator and forced him to explain his record.

Tennessee state representative Gloria Johnson lost to Republican Eddie Smith by less than 200 votes in 2014. Johnson ran again in 2016, once again losing by less than 200 votes. Johnson decided to make the third time the charm in 2018.

Our research showed that Smith missed 178 votes in 2017-2018 alone. Using our research, Johnson made the case that Smith was an absentee legislator who routinely missed votes on the House floor. In 2018, Johnson went on to beat Smith by 2, 454 votes.