Joe CarrMURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Embattled U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais now has two Republican challengers seeking to oust him in next year’s GOP primary.
The latest, state Rep. Joe Carr, announced his candidacy Thursday. The 55-year-old Lascassas, Tenn., business consultant said he will “stand firm” for the “first principles of our Founding Fathers” and pledged to “lead with integrity and advance the conservative movement in Washington.”
State Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, announced in January he was running against DesJarlais. Carr in December formed an exploratory committee to test the waters for a bid.
Carr said he opposes the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and current immigration reform efforts, saying before embarking on anything “maybe, maybe it would be appropriate to enforce the law.”
And the lawmaker charged that Congress is “sitting idly by” while the Obama administration “threatens civil liberties” on the Second Amendment and other rights.