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The Tennessee primaries are a little more than a month away, but we already know that the winner of the Republican primary will be a candidate who has committed to protecting taxpayers. That’s because all four Republicans running for Governor – Rep. Diane Black, Bill Lee, Randy Boyd, and state house Speaker Beth Harwell – have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 

By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Boyd, Black, Lee, and Harwell have committed to Tennessee residents that they will oppose and veto any and all efforts to raise taxes if elected to replace Bill Haslam as governor. 

“I applaud all the candidates running in the GOP gubernatorial primary for making such an important commitment to Tennessee taxpayers,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “Following passage of federal tax reform, the United States has become an even more attractive destination for investment. Avoiding tax increases will ensure that Tennessee remains one of the most attractive destinations in the U.S. for the expected influx of global capital. By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, all Republicans running for governor have made clear that they recognize the importance of keeping Tennessee a low tax state.” 

Americans for Tax Reform offers the Pledge to all candidates for state and federal office. In the 115th Congress, 46 U.S. Senators and 209 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pledge signers. Pledge signers include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, and GOP Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady are also pledge signers.

On the state level, this commitment is shared by 11 incumbent governors including Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.), Gov. Rick Scott (Fla.), and Gov. Paul LePage (M.E.), and nearly 1,000 state legislators across the country.

President Ronald Reagan endorsed the Pledge and campaigned for Pledge-signing candidates in the 1986 midterm elections.