Neither U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee, nor U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, has primary opposition in their bids for reelection next month.
Hagerty, who was briefly talked about last year as a possible gubernatorial candidate, will be seeking his second term, while Fleischmann, who’d like to think he might get a Senate appointment should U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, win the governor’s race, is hoping for his ninth term.
A ninth term would surpass Fleischmann’s predecessor, Republican Zach Wamp, and be one term short of Wamp’s predecessor, Democrat Marilyn Lloyd.
Five Democrats, none of them formidable, will vie for the chance to take on Hagerty. The best known name is Marquita Bradshaw, who as the Democratic nominee in 2020 was trounced by Hagerty. She also lost to state Rep. Gloria Johnson in a bid to be the Democratic nominee against Blackburn in 2024.
(IN THE NEWS: Democrats face off for chance to unseat Fleischmann)