TN-01: Probably the biggest news last night was Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe’s 500-vote victory over incumbent Rep. David Davis. Davis, a freshman, won the open-seat GOP primary last cycle with just 22% (Roe finished fourth), so in some sense this isn’t too surprising. But man is that one short congressional career. Note to Democrats: One of Roe’s most successful lines of attack was to link Davis to “big oil.”
TN-07: Uber-wingnut Rep. Marsha Blackburn held off a challenge by Shelby County Register of Deeds Tom Leatherwood, winning 62-38.
TN-09: Thursday’s best result was progressive Rep. Steve Cohen’s resounding 79-19 thrashing of Nikki Tinker. After running a racist and antisemitic campaign remarkable for its ugliness, Tinker deserved to be humiliated – and was. The other big loser was EMILY’s List, which backed Tinker’s play despite Cohen’s vastly better politics. All in all, a big win for the good guys.
TN-Sen: With just 32% of the vote in a crowded field, former Dem state party chair Bob Tuke earned the right to take on Lamar! Alexander this fall.
Gilchrest, Wynn, Davis, Cannon (I think). Are there anymore?
Just those four so far.
It looks like Gary Davis got as many votes as he did because voters in TN-01 and TN-04 confused him with their Congressmen, David Davis (R) and Lincoln Davis (D). Lincoln, OK, that’s maybe forgivable. But in TN-01??? Democrats there didn’t realize their Congressman is a Republican, or didn’t mind voting for him for Senate???