In Tennessee, GOP Governor Candidates Debate Confederate Monuments and Arming Teachers

Memphis' controversial takedown of its Confederate monuments, arming teachers and development incentives were among a handful of topics addressed in the first Republican Tennessee gubernatorial debate Wednesday in Memphis.

The hour-long, televised event between U.S. Rep. Diane Black, Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee was mostly cordial but offered voters an early view of the differences between the candidates.

Citing her ongoing legislative duties, House Speaker Beth Harwell was the lone top-tier Republican absent from the debate.