Democrat Sees Vouchers, Gun Safety as Key Issues in House District 65 Race

State House District 65 Democratic nominee LaRhonda Williams is set to face off against Republican Lee Reeves in the Nov. 5 general election for the seat currently held by retiring Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin).

In 2022, Williams unsuccessfully ran for the Williamson County Commission's District 1 seat.

“That experience taught me that there are people out there that are kind of brave enough to step outside the line,” Williams told The News, adding that she sees earning the support of both Democrats and moderate Republicans as an important aspect of her state House race.

“I would love to have the support of Republicans that understand that this party is changing and that it's okay to think in the purple mindset.”

Williams previously worked with the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole and with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, where she advanced to the role of associate warden of a women’s correctional facility. In 2020, she began working with the Tennessee Department of Health.

Williams said that her experience with corrections has informed her views on increasing public gun safety training and supporting gun reforms, including the implementation of red-flag laws and raising the age to legally purchase a rifle from 18 to 21.

“Legally, once those red-flag laws are being utilized and someone has a gun taken away from them, they have every right, if the charges are dismissed or dropped, to go back before that judge and ask for their gun privileges back,” Williams said.

“I think if we were to take away the politicalness from it, and that's going to require a lot of courage from lawmakers to say, 'you know what, both sides agree that no one wants to take guns away.' You just have to do it in a safe way, in the smart way.”

In a July 10 pre-primary District 65 forum, Williams said that she is “simply against [school] vouchers,” standing in stark contrast to Reeves, who was the only Republican candidate in the August primary who supported Gov. Bill Lee's proposed voucher bill, which failed in the last legislative session and will be revived in January.

Reeves' campaign saw a flood of pro-voucher “dark money” political action campaign (PAC) funding in his successful primary run, something that Williams characterized as “savage." She added that it was “unfortunate” that Reeves' main Republican opponent, sitting Williamson County Commission Chair Brian Beathard, didn't win the Republican nomination.

“His main objective, unfortunately, is to be a spokesperson for vouchers,” Williams said of Reeves.

Williams is against arming teachers with guns, instead arguing for more funding for school resource officers, and is in support of women's reproductive rights.

“In District 65, our education system is at stake [in this election,]” Williams said. 

“I really hope that with this election people understand that you have two very dynamic candidates between myself and Mr. Reeves; you have private experience compared to public experience," Williams continued. "You have a PAC that is investing in you to ensure that we get vouchers, and you have someone that understands that you have to use evidence-based practices to make decisions.”