Bill Lee and Karl Dean squared off on Tuesday night at the Michael D. Rose Theater Lecture Hall at the University of Memphis in the first of three televised debates.

In what has been termed a ‘cordial’ debate, the difference between two gubernatorial contestants was apparent when they answered questions regarding health care, gun violence, and education.

Dean called the rejection of Medicaid expansion a “mistake” saying that “there are closer to 330k uninsured in Tennessee who would be insured if we did Medicaid expansion,” Lee called the expansion part of a “flawed system” and a “mistake for Tennessee.”

Karl Dean, the Democratic candidate is the former mayor of Nashville from 2007 to 2015. He defeated Minority Speaker Craig Fitzhugh in the primary to secure the nomination.

Bill Lee, who is a Williamson County businessman, defeated former Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Randy Boyd, Rep. Diane Black, and Speaker Beth Harwell in the Republican Primary.

Early voting for the November 6 General Election begins Wednesday, October 17.
The deadline for registration is Tuesday, October 9.