Incumbent Tenn. congressman loses primary

[kevinmc]

Source: AP

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — A freshman U.S. representative on Thursday became the first Tennessee congressman to lose a primary since 1966 after a bruising campaign in which he was accused of selling out to "Big Oil."

Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe beat freshman U.S. Rep. David Davis by a 500-vote margin in the solidly Republican 1st District in the northeastern corner of the state.

Davis left his campaign party Thursday night without conceding the race, but Roe declared victory in a speech to supporters.

"I will try to serve you with dignity and honesty, just like we ran this campaign," Roe said. "Ain't it fun to win one?"

With all precincts reporting, Roe had 25,916 votes, or 50 percent of the vote, to Davis' 25,416 votes, or 49 percent.

Congressional incumbents from Tennessee are rarely voted out of office. Voters in the 1st District haven't ousted an incumbent congressman since 1930.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_21CQEmVXaRLlqpw6n7eqnKIyNwD92DTD200

[DS1]

1. Since 1930?

I'll bet one dollar someone is getting divorced in the next two weeks.

[Robbien]

2. The Dem running against him doesn't sound too positive about his chances

It will be tough going for the 38-year-old, since a Democrat hasn’t held the congressional seat since 1881.

“I was pretty sure I was going to win the nomination,” Russell said from his home late Thursday. “I don’t have a lot of money, so I’ve been counting on members of the Democratic Party in this area to help out.”

Russell said he wants to represent the interests of Tennessee families by providing honest and effective leadership and being the voice for the region in Washington, D.C.

“I think people are turned off by all the mudslinging, and yes, I’m referring to the Phil Roe-David Davis Republican race,” he said.

Since 1997, Russell has served as Writing and Communication Center director at East Tennessee State University’s Johnson City campus. Among his many duties, he teaches several courses, including “Critical Thinking and Argumentation.”

“I’ll be attending some Democratic Party events coming up in Cocke and Unicoi counties,” he said. “And I’m hoping that Democrats that are thinking of voting Republican and undecided independents will think it over and perhaps vote for me.”

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/russell_wins_nomination_in_democrats_us_house_primary/12485/

Well, at least he won't be running against the bible thumper incumbent Davis.

[wysimdnwyg]

9. That part of Tennessee is dark red on the map

East Tennessee is about as firmly Republican as it gets. Outside of Knoxville, Chattanooga and the ETSU campus, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of Democrats who hold office in the Eastern time zone of TN. Despite Russell's slim chances in November, I'd call this a win for Dems.

[kevinmc]

3. I am stunned that a Republican lost being branded " for Big Oil"...

hope that carries across the country.

[pf99]

4. This is Great News

Davis was on of the worst person in Congress.

While I believe the Democrat Russel will be better, Roe will at least be tolerable and that may be the best we get out of that district.

[Enrique]

5. whew!

I was afraid this was the dem Cohen in Memphis. His challenger has been running a dirty campaign, and I'd be bummed if she beat him.

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

7. Here you go... the word on Cohen!

Tenn. Democrat beats lawyer who linked him to KKK
WOODY BAIRD ASSOCIATED PRESS
Originally published 11:06 p.m., August 7, 2008, updated 11:07 p.m., August 7, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. (AP) - A racially charged Democratic primary campaign ended Thursday with an incumbent congressman trouncing the opponent who ran an ad linking him to the Ku Klux Klan.

Early, unofficial results showed Democrat Steve Cohen with 79 percent of the vote to 19 percent for Nikki Tinker, a black corporate lawyer who was his chief opponent in the district that covers Memphis.


www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/07/tenn-democrat-beats-lawyer-who-linked-him-to-kk-1/

[Enrique]

8. thank you

and thanks to the democratic voters of Memphis. :toast:

[LeftishBrit]

6. What is it about people called David Davis - we have a right-wing nutter MP of that name in Britain.

[nomaco-10]

10. An old repub out a new repub in to run against dem.....

that has little or no chance to win in nov.


http://www.knoxviews.com/node/8255

[rateyes]

11. Hey, Hey, Hey...that's my hometown district. An old sot named

Jimmy Quillen used to hold that seat, before Davis. I knew one Democrat who was continually elected to office from that area, a State Senator named Ralph Yelton who had lost the use of his legs in Vietnam (lived in my neighborhood). Maybe the Davis folk will stay home in November---wouldn't that be a coup???