Tennessee state representative Jim CobbNASHVILLE – After winning a decades-long struggle for control of the Tennessee General Assembly in 2010, many Republican incumbents are discovering a downside to their success this year.
Twenty-three lawmakers are fending off election challenges — not so much from Democrats as from fellow Republicans.
Twenty of the 64 House Republicans — almost a third — face intra-party challenges from opponents of varying degrees of ability, support and financial resources.
In Southeast Tennessee, Republican Reps. Richard Floyd, of Chattanooga; Jim Cobb, of Spring City; and Kevin Brooks and Eric Watson, both of Cleveland, face contests in the Aug. 2 primary.
In the Senate, three of the 20 incumbent Republicans face GOP challengers.