Jerri Green, Tennessee’s Democratic candidate for governor, who is running against Republican US Sen. Marsha Blackburn, has vowed to “enact a moratorium on all future executions,” in the state.
“What happened on that gurney wasn’t just an administrative failure; it was torture, plain and simple,” Green said in a statement concerning the botched execution of Christa Pike.
“True respect for the victims and their families means a justice system built on honesty, fairness, and safety, not cruelty, endless systemic failure, and secrecy. The facts are clear: the death penalty has proven to be an ineffective deterrent to violent crime, it is vastly more expensive than life imprisonment, and it is riddled with bias,” her statement reads in part.
“While the rest of the world reels from a botched execution that went horribly wrong, Blackburn is doubling down, calling to bring back the electric chair. That is barbaric, and it has no place in our state,” Green said of her opponent.
“As a public defender who has seen the devastating flaws in our justice system firsthand, my stance remains unshakeable: true pro-life values mean rejecting the death penalty entirely, and as Governor, I will enact a moratorium on all future executions,” she added.