Tennessee Congressman Scott DesJarlaisTea party candidate. Maverick backbencher. Primary target.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais has worn all of those labels in the two years he’s been in politics. But now his public career appears to have taken a turn that could be the biggest surprise of all: standard-bearer of the Tennessee Republican establishment.
Just 15 months after he shocked the political world with his win over Democratic Rep. Lincoln Davis, DesJarlais has grown into a surprisingly strong candidate for re-election. But even as his road clears to the Republican nomination for the 4th Congressional District, the freshman congressman still could face a forceful challenge in November.
Since arriving in Washington in January 2011, DesJarlais has earned a reputation for taking a hard-line stance on budget and spending issues.
He voted against a debt-reduction plan put forward by House Speaker John Boehner in July, a debt-ceiling compromise in August and a government-funding measure in December. With those votes, DesJarlais opposed Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and other Republican leaders.