Hamilton County: Will real Gary Davis stand up?

Gary G. Davis didn’t raise a penny, plant a single campaign sign, campaign in Hamilton County or even have a Web site, but he won the county’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary by almost 1,750 votes.

“I have been ignored,” Mr. Davis said of his treatment by Tennessee media outlets. “But I still haven’t given up.”

The surprising success of Mr. Davis’ campaign in Southeast Tennessee came down to one factor, according to Vanderbilt University political science professor Bruce Oppenheimer: His name.

“When people do not know the candidates’ names, they look for a familiar name,” he said.

Mr. Davis shares a last name with U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., Dr. Oppenheimer pointed out. He also shares a name with several area residents, including Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis and Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Vice President Gary A. Davis.

Gary G. Davis, who describes his political viewpoint as “reform, leaning toward liberalism,” said that only a handful of voters likely were confused by his name.

“I think our voters are a little bit more intelligent than that,” he said, noting that he made sure his middle initial appeared on the ballot.

Mr. Davis came in second in the state, losing to former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke by about 20,000 votes. Mr. Tuke will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., in November.

All election results are unofficial until certified.

Mr. Tuke, a Nashville attorney and former Tennessee Democratic Party chairman, appeared mystified over the situation.

“Well, you know, we’re trying to figure out who people in Hamilton County thought Gary was,” he said. “A lot of people have been speculating that they confused him with Lincoln Davis. I don’t know. Davis is a good, strong name. Maybe he was down there campaigning. I have no idea.”

Mr. Davis, who also ran in the Senate primaries of 2002 and 2006 according to the Federal Election Commission, said he never came closer to Chattanooga than Franklin County in this year’s campaign.

“I didn’t go there because I was never invited,” said the Nashville resident, whose name was listed second from the top on Hamilton County ballots.

Still, he claimed victory not only in Hamilton County but every Tennessee county that borders it.

No record exists of a campaign finance filing by Mr. Davis for this year’s campaign on the Federal Election Commission Web site.

But Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis said the fact that both men use initials in their names may have caused more people to think Gary G. was D. Gary. In the time leading up to the election, several people asked him whether he was running for the U.S. Senate, the mayor said. Also, he said, several poll workers told him voters were asking where he was on the ballot.

Mayor Davis said he didn’t see the name on the ballot, however. He voted in the Republican primary.

Coca-Cola Plant Manager Gary A. Davis said people probably weren’t thinking of him when they voted for Gary G. Davis.

“I think people who know me probably know I wouldn’t (run for the Senate),” he said.

Still, the manager joked that he knows he’ll have support if he ever does run for office.