U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp’s decision not to seek re-election in East Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District created a rare open U.S. House seat that attracted 21 contenders.
That large field, along with a spirited Republican primary that includes Wamp in the governor’s race, has sparked unusually high interest in Thursday’s election, said Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Charlotte Mullis-Morgan.
She said Republican voters have outpolled Democrats locally by 5 to 1 in early voting, which ended Saturday.
“It’s the governor’s race and especially the 3rd District race,” she said.
Hixson health care consultant Robin Smith, 47, and Ooltewah resident Chuck Fleischmann, also 47, have led the GOP field in campaign spending.