Alt title: GOP Rep. Running for Governor Says He’ll Stop School Vouchers, “On the Socialism Scale”
Republican Tennessee state Rep. Monty Fritts, who is running for governor, has voted against school vouchers while in the House. Fritts said this week that if he is elected governor, he will “stop the vouchers in Tennessee. Full-stop.”
[NOTE: Fritts is running against MAGA-aligned U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Representative John Rose in the GOP gubernatorial primary, both of whom are in favor of school vouchers and other school choice initiatives.]
As seen below, Fritts cited the Tennessee Constitution, which says, “we recognize the inherent value of education” and that the “General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance, support, and eligibility standard for a system for free public schools.”
Fritts added, “I think that’s a specific and restrictive statement and does not permit us to expend public funds on private schools.”
I voted “NO” on school vouchers in the House. As Governor, I will stop the vouchers in Tennessee.
The taxpayer should not be funding school vouchers for families that can afford to send their children to private school. Full-Stop. pic.twitter.com/gU74yy9dVL
— Monty Fritts (@MontyFritts4TN) April 20, 2026
Fritts also took a swipe at Blackburn and Rose for saying they’d continue or expand school vouchers, as incumbent Governor Bill Lee has done. Fritts said of his GOP opponents, “I’m not sure they know what he’s done, to be honest with you,” and asserted that the current program isn’t economically sustainable.
Fritts said if the average Tennessean pays $4,600 a year in local and state taxes, and a voucher is worth $7,300 this year — and it might go up to $7,800 next year — one voucher exceeds that one person’s average input into state government.
“So we’re taking money from your pocket and putting it in someone else’s pocket,” he said. “That’s a little on the socialism scale for me. I can’t support that.”