Tenn. lawmaker says out-of-state PAC spent $2.5M on attack ads against him, warns future candidates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — He was the target of numerous attack ads funded by an out of state political action committee.

State Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) ran for the open congressional seat in Tennessee's recent special election, but he finished second to Matt Van Epps in the Republican primary.

After the primary, the head of the conservative PAC, Club for Growth, took credit for Barrett's loss and called it a warning to other candidates.

On Inside Politics , State Rep. Jody Barrett responded and said voters can now see how out of state money threatens his party and especially rural lawmakers.

Barrett was attacked because he voted against Governor Bill Lee's Education Freedom Act - also called vouchers.

"Jody Barrett voted no. He'd be another snake in the DC swamp. A sl