Many in the business say that all politics is local. Lately many have wondered if all politics is becoming national. The recent Republican primaries for Knox County Commissioner were a little bit of both. The issues being discussed were local — the new Intel semiconductor factory, lack of affordable housing in the county, and most prominently, an industrial solar project south of Mount Vernon. But this year’s primaries still had national overtones: populism, the role of religion in government, and polarization. These themes could be observed in the race for the county commissioner seat currently held by Thom Collier. Collier ultimately lost the primary, coming behind both the winner, Drenda Keesee, and another challenger, Bob Phillips.
Both Keesee and Phillips assailed Collier’s stance on the Frasier Solar Project, arguing that allowing it to go through would infringe on Knox County’s agricultural roots and that the payments the company has offered to local landowners constitute a dirty practice. Those against the project have become an active force in county politics, organizing and showing up to municipal meetings. Clearly, they turned out to vote as well. Keesee and Phillips collectively got 73% of the vote, swamping out any advantage of incumbency that Collier might have had. Keesee leaned into her background as both a pastor and a businesswoman. Like many on the new right, Keesee mixes a religious message and background with populist stances that reflect broader conservative beliefs, including opposition to low-income housing and a negative stance against immigrants.
Perhaps the most predictable path to victory in a Knox County election would be through Mount Vernon, the only city and most populous jurisdiction. A previous analysis by Joseph Ferrari '24 and Andrew Nguyen '23 shows how voters in Mount Vernon were crucial to the passage of the 2022 Board of Health levy. While Mount Vernon voters were able to push the tax levy over the finish line in that election, they were not able to get their first choice this time around: Phillips won a plurality in the city with 39% of the vote, followed by Keesee at 31% and Collier at 30%. Keesee was able to make up for her deficit in Mount Vernon by winning big elsewhere: Keesee won the rest of the county with 42% of the vote, enough to launch her to the Republican nomination. This race shows that winning Mount Vernon alone is not necessarily enough to win countywide; while the city accounted for nearly a fifth of total votes, Keesee ultimately prevailed by minimizing her losses there while building bridges elsewhere.