• The candidate forum took place at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
  • UT, Lipscomb University and the USA Today Network – Tennessee sponsored the event.
  • The next forum is scheduled for May 19 at 7 p.m. CDT at Lipscomb University.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates on Thursday called for the expansion of Medicaid to address health equity gaps in the state.

Dr. Jason Martin and Memphis City Council member J.B. Smiley, both vying for the Democratic nomination in the Aug. 4 primary, said the state should join the majority of the country in expanding Medicaid.

Expansion could extend TennCare coverage to an estimated 300,000 people, many of whom cannot afford private medical insurance. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Jason Martin speaks at an forum hosted by the USA TODAY Network Tennessee in partnership with UT and Lipscomb University, held at the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Martin criticized Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly’s “radical supermajority” for leaving federal dollars on the table during a candidate forum Thursday night at the University of Tennessee, while both candidates called for leadership to do more for Tennesseans outside of the state’s biggest cities. 

“Health equity doesn’t stop or start with expanding Medicaid, we need to invest in communities who are suffering and neglected,” Smiley said. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Smiley speaks at a forum hosted by the USA TODAY Network Tennessee in partnership with UT and Lipscomb University, held at the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, Thursday, May 12, 2022.

The forum on university’s Knoxville campus kicked off a series of six candidate conversations leading up to the 2022 elections. The University of Tennessee System and Lipscomb University jointly partnered with the USA Today Network – Tennessee to host the series.

Lee also attended the forum but did not take the stage with his Democratic opponents, instead answering questions in an one-on-one format.