US Congressional Races in Tennessee
Can't Tell the Players without a Program?
Having a hard time keeping track of the candidates for the 2010 elections in Tennessee? The task gets easier August 5 when the primary will pare down the hopefuls in the Democratic and Republican ranks, leaving the party regulars to fight it out with a host of independents in the November 2 general election.
Incumbent Republican John “Jimmy” Duncan, Jr. squares off against Democrat Dave Hancock, Libertarian Greg Samples, and independents D.H. “Andy” Andrew, H. Heading, and Joe Leinweber, Jr. Read more …
Zach Wamp’s gubernatorial run has left this seat open for almost a dozen Republican, four Democratic, a Libertarian and four independent candidates, making it (along with District 5) one of the most crowded races. On the Republican side are Frank Cowan, Tommy Crangle, Chuck Fleischman, Tim Gobble, Harvey Howard, Jean Howard-Hill, Van Irion, Rick Kernea, Art Rhodes, Robin Smith, and Grover Travillian. On the Democratic side of the primary Larry Abeare, Brenda Short, Brent Staton, and John Wolfe, Jr. made the ballot. Libertarian candidate Mo Kiah rounds out the list of contenders with four independent candidates (Mark DeVol, Greg Goodwin, Robert Humphries, and Savas Kyriakidis).
Democrat Lincoln Davis is watching his five Republican hopefuls carefully in a race that may be as much about the “Washington taint” of Democratic incumbents as about the candidates’ records and capabilities. Republican contenders include Jack Bailey, Scott DesJarlais, Kent Greenough, Ron Harwell, and Don Strong. Independents Paul Curtis, Jason Desmond, James Gray, Richard Johnson and Gerald York have also qualified for the ballot (but won’t play much of a role against the campaign money the major parties are going to pour into this race).
Like Lincoln Davis, incumbent Jim Cooper is more concerned about his eventual Republican opponent than nominal Democrat and Tea Party Activist Eric Pearson. Thirteen Republicans qualified for this ballot, including Micheal Barbuto, Brendan Finucane, Jr., David Hall, Jeff Hartline, CeCe Heil, Vijay Kumar, Patrick Miranda, Bob Ries, Bob Schwartz, Jarod Scott, Lonnie Spivak, All Strauss, and Tracy Tarum. Green Party candidate John Miglietta and Libertarian Stephen Collins, along with independents William Crook, Nathan Harden, Jackie Miller, Eric Schecter, John Smith, Thomas “Clark” Taylor, and James Whitfield, II provide more complexity, if not practical options, for the voters.
With incumbent Bart Gordon’s retirement, the Democratic primary makes for active campaigning among Brett Carter, George Erdel, and Ben Leming (along with Henry Barry, Devora Butler, Floyd Conover, and Martin Kelly). But the real contest is in the primary between current state senator Diane Black, fellow state senator Jim Tracy, and former Rutherford County GOP chair Lou Ann Zelenik in a contest where these three all appear to be trying to out-Republican each other (especially in broadcast ads that may come back to haunt the eventual Republican winner in the general election). Other Republicans qualifying for the ballet include Dave Evans, Gary Mann, Bruce McLellan, and Kerry Roberts. Independents Jim Boyd, Brandon Gore, Tommy Hay, David Purcell, and Stephen Sprague also made the ballot. Read more ...
District 7 is one of the few races that is really a “no contest.” Popular Republican incumbent Marsha Blackburn has a nominal Republican challenger in Lenny Ladner and an equally nominal Democratic contender in the general election, Greg Rabidoux. Read more ...
Retiring Democrat John Tanner will cede his slot to popular Democratic state senator Roy Herron (against nominal Democratic primary contender Kimberlee “Kim” E. Smith – Luther Mercer, II was originally in the race, but dropped out in March). On the Republican side, there are a host of contenders (including Stephen Fincher, George Flinn, Jr., James Hart, Ron Kirkland, Randy Smith and Bennie Watts), although only Fincher, Flinn, and Kirkland have the money. Independents Donn James and Mark Rawles also qualified for the ballot. Read more ...
Incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen faces Willie Herenton on the Democratic ballot while Charlotte Bergmann, James Harrell, and Kevin Millen line up on the Republican side in another race where primary rhetoric seems to be as important as issues. Independents Perry Steele and Sandra Sullivan also made the ballot. Read more ...