U.S. Rep. Scott Desjarlais speaks at the La-Z-Boy furniture plant on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Dayton, Tenn.
FILE – In this Jan. 18, 2013, file photo, state Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, right, appears in court with attorney Worrick Robinson, left, Nashville, Tenn. Mark Lovell, one of Todd’s opponents in Thursday’s Republican primary race, tells news outlets that he posted a $100 bond for the lawmaker on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 as a “good deed.” Todd had been in a Memphis jail after being arrested Monday on a theft charge.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) NASHVILLE – In what many have billed as the year of the political outsider, Tennessee’s incumbent congressmen and state legislators fared pretty well in last week’s party primaries.
Except for two state House members involved in scandals, everyone holding a state or federal office survived their respective Republican or Democratic primaries.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., ran his fourth primary campaign for the 3rd District seat and for the first time had no major opponent. Instead he faced two little-known challengers, including one who lives in Georgia.
The result? Fleischmann racked up an 83.91 percent victory in the 11-county district that includes Hamilton County and Chattanooga. He faces Democrat Melody Shekari in November’s general election.
In the nearby 4th District, challenger Grant Starrett outspent U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the GOP primary but the South Pittsburg physician beat Starrett by 52.12 percent to 43.34 percent, according to unofficial results.