DesJarlais, Fleischmann win primaries

Staff photo by Doug Strickland / Senior Policy Advisor for America First Curtis Ellis, right, points to U.S. Reps. Scott DesJarlais, left, and Chuck Fleischmann as they join a panel discussion at a tax policy event hosted by America First policies at Lee University's Pangle Hall on Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Cleveland, Tenn. Vice President Mike Pence was the keynote speaker at the event, which featured a panel of guests discussing the effects of President Donald Trump's tax bill.
Staff photo by Doug Strickland / Senior Policy Advisor for America First Curtis Ellis, right, points to U.S. Reps. Scott DesJarlais, left, and Chuck Fleischmann as they join a panel discussion at a tax policy event hosted by America First policies at Lee University's Pangle Hall on Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Cleveland, Tenn. Vice President Mike Pence was the keynote speaker at the event, which featured a panel of guests discussing the effects of President Donald Trump's tax bill.

Republican incumbents Scott DesJarlais and Chuck Fleischmann easily won their primaries on Thursday, as they seek a return to their U.S. House seats for another two years.

Fleischmann is seeking his fifth term in the House. District 3 winds its way from the Kentucky state line in northeast Tennessee to Chattanooga in the south.

Fleischmann, an attorney from Ooltewah, held a massive fundraising lead over the three Republicans who were trying to unseat him.

He faces Democrat Danielle Mitchell of Hixson in the general election on Nov. 6. Mitchell is a physician from Hixson.

DesJarlais is seeking his fifth term in Congress in the 4th District that includes the Nashville suburb of Smyrna, the city of Murfreesboro and several southeast Tennessee counties.

Though the South Pittsburg physician now opposes abortion rights, he has faced a series of personal scandals that included affairs with patients, urging a mistress to seek an abortion and once holding a gun in his mouth for hours outside his ex-wife's room.

DesJarlais is among 11 members of the House who have filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein oversees Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

DesJarlais faces Democrat Mariah Phillips on Nov. 6.

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