NASHVILLE - Two incumbent Republican congressmen from Southeast Tennessee - U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann of Chattanooga and Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg - have cash to burn as they head into early voting today against lesser-known Democratic challengers.
In Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, Fleischmann, the three-term incumbent, reported $565,805 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30, while his Democratic challenger, attorney Melody Shekari, disclosed $38,379 in the bank.
Congressional candidates were required to file their disclosures to the Federal Election Commission by Oct. 15.
Also filing in the 4th Congressional District were DesJarlais, a South Pittsburg physician, and his challenger, Steven Reynolds, a Murfreesboro Democrat.
DesJarlais reported $116,889 in cash on hand while Reynolds, a sales manager for road construction contractor Old Castle Materials, disclosed having $2,051 in the bank.
In the Aug. 4 GOP primary, DesJarlais fended off a hard challenge from Grant Starrett, an attorney who moved into the district to run against the three-term congressman and spent $1.57 million with nearly $900,000 of that coming out of his own pocket.
Starrett also refunded another $113,000 in contributions made by donors, his disclosure shows.
DesJarlais, meanwhile, reported $521,276 in net expenditures over the course of the primary and afterward. He reported raising $50,000 during the July 16-Sept. 30 reporting period.
Fleischmann had little known opposition in the GOP primary. He reports having raised $1.54 million over the course of the 2016 campaign cycle and spending $1.03 million through Sept. 30.
And in a news release issued Tuesday, Fleischmann didn't mention early voting; instead he touted a Thursday event where the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is opening an office in downtown Chattanooga.
"I have strongly advocated over the last several years to connect the state-of-the-art technology assets of Oak Ridge National Lab with the entrepreneurial business strength of Chattanooga," Fleischmann said, noting it will "mark a pivotal day for the Chattanooga area."
The 3rd District includes the city of Oak Ridge, where the lab is located.
Democrat Shekari's campaign, meanwhile, is accusing Fleischmann of continuing to "duck and dodge" when it comes to holding candidate debates.
"This election is fraught with slogans, rhetoric and empty political promises - we should give the people substantive debates so they can make an informed choice," Shekari said in a news release.
Also running in the 3rd District general election as an independent is Ocoee, Tenn., businessman Rick Tyler. Tyler made an initial splash when he put up two billboards that declared "Make America White Again," a play on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has described Tyler as a "racist" and "extremist." There was no disclosure from Tyler on the FEC's website.
DesJarlais, meanwhile, spent part of Tuesday issuing his own news release, in which he made no mention of the election or early voting. It notes that "there is more to celebrate in October than just Halloween. This October is National Book Month."
"As a father," the congressman said, "I know that reading is essential to a child's success and growth. That is why I am encouraging every teacher to further immerse their students in a new journey by falling into a good book."
Early voting runs from today through Nov. 3.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.