State Sen. Jim Tracy raises $303,000 in quarter to unseat DesJarlais in 4th District

photo Sen. Jim Tracy
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

WASHINGTON - State Sen. Jim Tracy raised $303,000 between April and June in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee's 4th District, Tracy's campaign said in a news release today.

A Shelbyville Republican, Tracy announced his three-month haul a few days before candidates must file detailed campaign finance reports with the government. After expenses, Tracy said, the second-quarter funding puts his cash-on-hand total at $656,000.

Tracy and state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas are both challenging DesJarlais. Carr and DesJarlais haven't released second-quarter numbers at this point. Tracy, Carr and a DesJarlais aide were unable to be reached immediately this morning.

In the year's first fundraising quarter, Tracy doubled Carr's haul and held a 4-to-1 cash-on-hand lead over DesJarlais.

Despite winning re-election last November, DesJarlais suffered a series of political setbacks related to an old divorce and quickly drew two well-financed challengers in Tracy and Carr.

The 4th District GOP primary will be held in August 2014. The political territory includes Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie counties as well as parts of Bradley County.

Contributions must be designated for use in either a primary or general election. About 85 percent of Tracy's first-quarter contributions are for the Republican primary, records show.

Tracy's second-quarter release doesn't differentiate between primary and general contributions.

No Democrat has officially declared as a candidate.

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