ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE - Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has more than $1 million on hand as he gears up for a primary challenge by former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.
Herenton, who is scheduled to officially launch his campaign on Saturday, has not yet reported any fundraising activity for the 9th District race.
Cohen became the city's first white member of Congress in more than three decades when he was elected in 2006. Herenton was the city's first black mayor before his resignation last year after 18 years in office.
An unusually large field of candidates has filed to run this year because of the upcoming retirements of three of the state's nine members of Congress.
Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga is vacating his seat to run for governor, while Democratic Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner are retiring.
Several Republicans have declared their bids to succeed Gordon in the 6th Distinct, while no Democrat has yet filed papers with the Federal Election Commission.
Republican state Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville reported he had raised $266,847 from individuals through the end of 2009. Fellow state Sen. Diane Black of Gallatin raised about $50,000 and gave her campaign another $100,100.
Lou Ann Zelenik, the former chairwoman of the Rutherford County Republican Party, has loaned nearly $300,000 to her campaign and reported about $355,000 on hand.
There is also a large field to succeed Tanner in the 8th District in the northwestern corner of the state, though most have yet to file campaign finance reports.
Crockett County farmer Steve Fincher, the early Republican favorite, said he had run his total contributions to $675,631 and spent about $48,000 through the end of 2009.
State Sen. Roy Herron, the lone Democrat to have declared in the 8th District so far, said he had raised $430,000 and written his campaign a check for $250,000 since joining the race in December.
In the race for the 3rd District seat being vacated by Wamp, former state GOP chairwoman Robin Smith said she had raised $240,030 and spent almost $60,000 through the end of the year.
Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleishmann gave his campaign $380,000 and raised another $141,000. He had about $450,000 remaining on Dec. 31.
Arthur Rhodes is another District 3 candidate who has made a significant contribution to his own bid by writing himself a $75,000 check and raising another $40,000.
In the northeastern 1st Distinct, incumbent Rep. Phil Roe reported that he had raised $339,888 through the end of the year, and had $302,222 on hand for a potential rematch against former Rep. David Davis, whom he narrowly beat in the 2008 Republican primary.
Davis announced Monday he wouldn't run in 2010, the Kingsport Times-News reported.
In the 4th District, incumbent Rep. Lincoln Davis said he had $219,765 on hand as he prepares for this year's election.
Among Republican candidates seeking to challenge Davis, Franklin businessman Jack Bailey raised $89,950 and loaned his campaign another $13,500, while Jasper physician Scott DesJarlais raised $120,435 and gave his campaign another $34,200 through the end of the year.