Stop, collaborate and listen. Axios Nashville is back with its Wednesday edition.

• Today's weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 93.

This newsletter is 1,019 words — a 4-minute read.

Early voting begins today in the primary races for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.

Why it matters: The special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Green serves as an early temperature check heading into next year's midterm elections.

• Tennessee Republicans redrew the district to favor conservatives in 2022. But Democratic candidates say they could be competitive if voters have started tilting away from the Trump administration's policies.

Catch up quick: TN-7 covers a large swath of Nashville, including downtown and western Davidson County. It also includes Clarksville and stretches across several rural counties near the northern and southern borders.

• Green, a Trump-aligned Republican, won the district decisively in 2022 and 2024.
• His abrupt departure from Congress this year set the stage for the crowded Oct. 7 primary.

Driving the news: Polls open for early voting at 8am. There are six early voting locations.

• Early voting runs through Oct. 2.

Zoom in: Primary ballots include 11 Republicans and four Democrats.

• Review the ballots

The sprawling Republican field features former state official Matt Van Epps and state lawmakers Jody Barrett, Gino Bulso and Lee Reeves.

• Among the other candidates are Montgomery County Commissioner Jason D. Knight; former Green backer Stuart Cooper; and Mason Foley, who was previously a staffer for Sen. Mitch McConnell.
• The Republican ballot also includes Stewart Parks, who was convicted of crimes tied to Jan. 6 but later pardoned by President Trump.
• Go deeper: Read WPLN's overview for more on the slate of candidates.

Between the lines: The long list of candidates combined with limited polling makes the outcome particularly difficult to predict.

• But the winner of the Republican primary will enter the general election as the frontrunner.

The Democratic candidates are businessman Darden Copeland and state lawmakers Aftyn Behn, Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell.

• Go deeper: The Tennessee Lookout covered a Democratic debate that saw the candidates spar over the best strategies to pull an upset.

What's next: Primary election day is Oct. 7, with the general election to follow on Dec. 2.

• The TN-7 special election will be followed by a glut of big-ticket elections next year, including the race to replace outgoing Gov. Bill Lee.

Share this story

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Live Nation does enough to stop illegal bots from reselling tickets, Bloomberg News reports.

Why it matters: The new federal investigation intensifies scrutiny on the concert industry giant.

Between the lines: The regulation of live event ticketing is especially of interest in the international music hub of Nashville, where Live Nation has a heavy presence.

The big picture: State and federal officials from Tennessee have played a leading role in ticketing reforms.

• Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti opened his own investigation into Live Nation following public outcry in 2022 when many Taylor Swift fans were unable to buy tickets to her Nashville concerts.
• Skrmetti joined an ongoing DOJ antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, which is scheduled for trial next year.

Zoom in: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn was integral in the passage of the original BOTS Act, which made the use of computer software to buy and resell tickets illegal. Blackburn introduced new legislation earlier this year to further crackdown on ticket bots.

What she's saying: In a statement to Axios, Blackburn said music fans have been "forced to battle bots and scammers while trying to purchase tickets.

• "I applaud the FTC for launching this investigation, and I urge Congress to pass my MAIN Event Ticketing Act to strengthen FTC enforcement, protect consumers, and help put a stop to this harmful practice once and for all," she said.

Driving the news: The FTC investigation is in an advanced stage with a decision coming soon whether to pursue a case, Bloomberg reports.

• A Live Nation spokesperson told Reuters the company has not violated the BOTS Act and will defend itself against such claims. Ticketmaster blocks 200 million bots daily, the spokesperson said.

Share this story

✈️ Airport leaders are reviewing conditions that led to hours of gridlock around BNA on Monday. They hope to develop a plan that prevents similar backups in the future. (WSMV)