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Election update first: talked to Bill Stepien, President Trump's campaign manager today. First, he said to relay the President's thanks to everyone for their support during the campaign, on Election Day, and the challenges that have followed. Legal teams are challenging irregularities in Pennsylvania and Michigan, Georgia is headed to a recount which will allow a deeper look into those late arriving Georgia votes. Rallies are bring organized. Every legal vote should be counted and every legitimate challenge should be considered. Final legal vote totals should decide this race, not a media call.

Also, today I had the honor and privilege of speaking at the Veterans cross and flag dedication in Winchester. The American Legion Post 44 has done a wonderful thing in recognizing deceased veterans from Franklin County with flags and crosses displayed in various places around town - each recognizing an individual Franklin County veteran (175 in all). You can find them on the roundabout on Highway 64, the lot in front of Moore Cortner Funeral Home, down Highway 41A, and on Curl's Corner on the Cowan Highway.

As Veterans Day approaches next week, every county and city should consider doing these types of remembrances in the future, and let's also remember that the reason we continue to stand for free, fair, and transparent elections is because of the sacrifice and fight by those that have served throughout the entire history of this great nation.

Full day today with President's campaign and election legal team. We are are all reviewing evidence being presented with late ballots. The Supreme Court is requiring Pennsylvania to pull these late ballots to the side and secure them so that they may be reviewed separately. This should've been done anyway, but of course, PA couldn't "verify" that this was happening. Once those ballots are mixed with the others , it gets harder to review and verify.

Again, this is the kind of nonsense you get with disorganized, haphazard, poorly managed processes that either leave the perception of illegitimacy or actually encourages illicit activity.

I also joined several other members today in contacting Attorney General Barr to request the usage of all available resources of the Department of Justice to investigate and ensure that legal votes are being counted.

Various reports are coming from Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Georgia that need a full and fair accounting. The election totals are close and these votes in question are impactful to the final determination of the Presidency.

America deserves a transparent accounting of the vote tabulation process in these states, and we will continue to fight to see that it happens.

In other news, Speaker Pelosi - who had a really bad night Tuesday night and had her House majority narrowed when all predictions are that it would be expanded - declared a Biden mandate and said her House members had a hand in delivering it. Of course, she failed to mention their conference meeting the other day in which angry moderate Democrats told them - in quite graphic language - that their socialist agenda is going to destroy their electoral prospects in 2022.

A couple of months ago, I talked about how Tennessee should be a role model for the nation on how to conduct an election. Mail-in and absentees are limited to very specific reasons, a generous 2 week early voting period is granted, and then we have Election Day with substantial numbers of precincts available. Everyone has the ability to do their civic duty with a minimum amount of effort.

No drama, no long lines and waits, and a process that is free and fair to all candidates. Votes are tabulated, and results are provided in a timely fashion on election night. It's not complicated.

It is ridiculous and unacceptable in the 21st Century that other states have processes that lead to a situation where it is now Thursday night and votes are still being tabulated, totals are uncertain, and remaining votes are still nebulous.

It is absurd. Even if you accept that everything is above board, no one should sit here and say that this process doesn't stink. And, to not allow observers - from both sides - to witness the process of counting is just downright unacceptable. That must change ASAP!

Election reform is needed and the mail-in process will always be vulnerable to delays and the suggestion that foul play is involved - especially with the evidence being presented.

I have offered to help the President in any other state where problems exist. We're very fortunate in Tennessee to do it the right way - and we did. And, while I am traditionally a supporter of states' rights, if some are unable to create a free and fair process, then we need to engage in a legislative fix for election reform. And, Tennessee's success should be a part of that discussion.

Remember, after 2000, we spent billions upon billions of dollars for updated machines and processes, and 20 years later we're arguably in a worse position in terms of having a transparent process. There is no reason - NONE - that we can't have a procedure in this day and time to have almost all votes accounted for on Election Day.

The polling was wrong - again, the media reporting for months before the election were wrong - again, the predictions of Republicans getting destroyed in the Congress were wrong - again. I stand with President Trump, and I stand against those states that have manipulated their electoral processes in a way that is either blatantly unfair or creates the uncertainty of fairness.

We need a defined in person voting process that includes early voting. We need voter ID requirements. We need a limited mail in ballot process that allows for absentee votes for military personnel serving overseas or away from their homes, people traveling abroad for extended periods, and those that have serious health issues that would legitimately keep them from being able to make it to the polls. Beyond that, people should take a brief moment out of their lives to show up and make an informed vote for the candidates and issues on the ballot.

Thank you to the overwhelming number of Tennesseans who understand this responsibility and do their civic duty in a fair and forthright way. I'll be fighting for the rest of the country to do it the "Tennessee way."