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Starrett has spent $700,000 of his own money in race against DesJarlais

Grant Starrett says he intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the GOP primary next year.
Grant Starrett says he intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the GOP primary next year. Grant Starrett says he intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the GOP primary next year.

By Andy Sher 2 min read

photo Grant Starrett and Scott DesJarlais are pictured in this composite photo.

NASHVILLE – In the first two weeks of July, Republican challenger Grant Starrett expanded mail and media assault on U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the state’s 4th Congressional District primary.

A pre-primary disclosure form Starrett filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission for July 1-15 showed he spent $190,000 on a TV and radio ad blitz and direct mail, and has spent $918,591 overall to date in the 16-county race.

DesJarlais’ pre-primary disclosure was not available on the FEC website as of Saturday evening. The disclosures were due by midnight.

photo This mailer from GOP challenger Grant Starrett is his latest political mail attack on U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais
photo This mailer from GOP challenger Grant Starrett is his latest political mail attack on U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais

Meanwhile, a separate 48-hour disclosure Starrett filed last week showed the the 28-year-old attorney from Murfreesboro loaned his campaign another $200,000.

To date, Starrett has loaned his campaign $676,561. Combined with $23,400 Starrett gave his campaign as an in-kind contribution, his total personal stake in the contest is now $699,961. It accounts for almost half of the $1.49 million he’s taken in.