NASHVILLE – State Sen. Diane Black’s 6th District victory Tuesday has put Republicans closer to taking control of Tennessee’s congressional delegation for the first time in nearly a decade.
With 26 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Black had 43,678 votes, or 67 percent of the vote, to Brett Carter’s 18,820, or 29 percent.
The state’s congressional delegation, currently five Democrats and four Republicans, was poised to tip to the GOP for the first time since Congressman Lincoln Davis was elected in 2002.
The 6th District race was among at least three expected to turn as Republicans tried to gain control of the U.S. House.
Early figures Tuesday night showed Republican Stephen Fincher leading Democratic state Sen. Roy Herron in the 8th District, and Republican Dr. Scott DesJarlais was ahead of Democratic incumbent Lincoln Davis in the 4th District race.