Van Hilleary

State Rep. Johnny Garrett won the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, advancing to the general election after defeating former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary. Garrett's campaign involved initiatives on issues such as naturalized citizens running for office and focused heavily on transgender Tennesseans.

State Rep. Johnny Garrett defeated Van Hilleary in a contentious primary for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District. In the November election, Garrett will face Mike Croley, who is running as the Democratic Party’s nominee. Both candidates ran on shared positions, including efforts to increase affordability and crack down on immigration.

Tennessee ranks 50th in quality of life, with poor metrics in air quality, crime rates, and worker protections. Republican candidates focus on controversial campaign tactics, including anti-LGBTQ+ ads with drag queens, while the state faces declining living conditions.

Tennessee's 6th District Republican primary is dubbed the state's biggest drag show due to campaign ads by candidates Van Hilleary and Johnny Garrett featuring drag queens. The article critiques the candidates' use of drag imagery in political messaging, highlighting irony and ethical concerns.

Tennessee banned AI in political ads requiring disclosure, but candidates Johnny Garrett and Van Hilleary used AI-generated visuals in attack ads without revealing their artificial origins. Enforcement of the law requires voter complaints or lawsuits, but no complaints have been filed in the 6th Congressional District race.

Van Hilleary and Johnny Garrett, Republican candidates in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District primary, are using deepfake ads without required disclosures under the Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act, which applies to state campaigns. Their ads depict Hilleary aligning with Trump and portray Garrett in scenarios suggesting support for progressive policies, which he opposes.

AI political ads in Tennessee's 6th Congressional District race have sparked scrutiny due to lack of disclosures about AI-generated content. A new Tennessee law requires disclosures for AI deepfakes in political ads, but candidates argue it does not apply to federal races.

Van Hilleary is a candidate for Congress in District 6. The candidate did not respond to a community survey questionnaire provided by the Nashville Banner.

Van Hilleary and Johnny Garrett are leading Republican candidates in the race to succeed John Rose in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District. Both candidates emphasize support for Trump’s 'America First' ideology, with Hilleary highlighting fiscal policies and term limits, while Garrett focuses on legislative actions against transgender athletes and undocumented immigration.