2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

Overview

By district

District 1

Roe:

The redrawn 1st district will represent Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties, and parts of Jefferson County. The most populous city in the district is Johnson City, and the district will continue to be anchored by the Tri-Cities area. Republican Phil Roe, who has represented the 1st district since 2009, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Phil Roe, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Alan Woodruff, attorney

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• National Association of Letter Carriers

Predictions

Results

District 2

Duncan:

The redrawn 2nd district will represent Blount, Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, and Loudon counties, and parts of Campbell and Jefferson counties. The most populous city in the district is Knoxville; as before, the district is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. Republican Jimmy Duncan who has represented the 2nd district since 1988 ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jimmy Duncan, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Nick Ciparro, musician and full-time student
• Joseph Leinweber Jr., U.S. Air Force

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Troy Goodale, professor of Political Science at Tusculum College

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 3

Fleischmann:

The redrawn 3rd district will represent Anderson, Hamilton, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, Scott, and Union counties, and parts of Bradley and Campbell counties. The most populous city in the district is Chattanooga. Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who has represented the 3rd district since January 2011, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chuck Fleischmann, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Ron Bhalla, businessman;
• Scottie Mayfield, president of Mayfield Dairy;
• Weston Wamp, founder of a public relations firm and son of former U.S. Representative Zach Wamp

Withdrawn

• Jean Howard-Hill, former professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and candidate for this seat in 2008 and 2010

Declined

• J.B. Bennett, attorney
• Savas Kyriakidis, businessman, Command Judge in the U.S. Army and independent candidate for this seat in 2010
• Robin Smith, health care consultant and former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party and candidate for this seat in 2010
• Tres Wittum, a policy and research analyst for state senator Bo Watson

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mary Headrick, emergency room and acute care physician

Eliminated in primary

• Bill Taylor, businessman,

Declined

• Brenda Freeman Short, candidate for this seat in 2010

Primary results

Independents

Candidates

• Matthew Deniston, Army Veteran and former Ranger

Withdrawn

• Topher Kersting, web designer

Declined

• Savas Kyriakidis, businessman, Command Judge in the U.S. Army and independent candidate for this seat in 2010

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• American Conservative Union

Predictions

Results

District 4

DesJarlais:
Stewart

The redrawn 4th district represented Bedford, Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Meigs, Moore, Rhea, Rutherford, Sequatchie, and Warren counties, and parts of Bradley, Maury, and Van Buren counties. The most populous city in the district was Murfreesboro, which had previously anchored the 6th District.

Republican Scott DesJarlais who had represented the 4th district since January 2011. He ran for re-election and won.

Republican primary

State senator Bill Ketron, a Murfreesboro resident, had been rumored to be considering a run for the 4th; he was chairman of the redistricting committee and reportedly drew Murfreesboro into the district to facilitate a run. However, on January 22, 2012, he announced he would not run.

Candidates

Nominee

• Scott DesJarlais, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Shannon Kelley, pilot

Declined

• Bill Ketron, state senator
• Jim Tracy, state senator

Primary results

DesJarlais won the Republican Party primary on August 2, 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/aug/02/us-rep-scott-desjarlais-shown-winning-gop-primary/ |newspaper=Times Free Press|title=U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais shown winning GOP primary

Democratic primary

State senator Eric Stewart announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge DesJarlais in late 2011. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made his candidacy their top priority in the South in early 2012. Stewart won the Democratic party endorsement.

Candidates

Nominee

• Eric Stewart, state senator

Primary results

General election

Campaign

The general election was characterized by a series of controversies involving the incumbent. Stewart agreed to three debates, but DesJarlais told the media that he would not participate. The incumbent was "open to revisiting the question later in the campaign", accusing Stewart of "lack of clarity on the issues" as a reason to avoid debating him. Stewart responded that DesJarlais was avoiding the voters. and the Times Free Press called it "No good reason to avoid debates".

In October 2012, DesJarlais silenced two Democratic representatives on the floor of Congress. DesJarlais was Speaker of the House pro tempore, in a pro forma session to prevent "President Barack Obama from making recess appointments without congressional consent". Stewart accused DesJarlais of neglecting the district's farmers by not passing the Farm Bill.

The media reported in mid-October 2012 on DesJarlais divorce of his first wife, Susan, from 2001. During their divorce proceedings, Susan DesJarlais alleged that her ex-husband engaged in "violent and threatening behavior". Court filings revealed that he had an affair with a female patient, and pressured her to have an abortion after she became pregnant. In response to the news, Stewart called him a "pro-life hypocrite", contending that "DesJarlais can't be trusted". The DesJarlais campaign did not challenge the truth of the allegations, but replied that "This is old news...." Stewart parried in a news conference that: After all that, DesJarlais "lashed out at Stewart", stating "there was no pregnancy, and no abortion", blaming his opponents and ex-wife for "dredging up details from his past".

After the primary elections, the race had been rated "Likely GOP" by RealClearPolitics. By July 13 FEC filings, DesJarlais had raised twice as much as Stewart, and had "$591,976 in the bank to Stewart's $152,712". Stewart's aim was to "blanket" the local airways with ads attacking his opponent's vote in favor of Paul Ryan's budget, while the incumbent would tie him to President Barack Obama, who is unpopular in the district. Both candidates were running as "outsiders".

As of October 12, the Romney/Ryan campaign had removed DesJarlais's endorsement from their website as reported by the Associated Press. By October 14, it had become the "State's most contentious U.S. House battle [that] has everyone talking". As of October 13, analysts stated that Stewart still had an uphill battle finding enough voters to back him.

On the eve of the election, November 5, the Associated Press called for Tennessee's 11 electoral votes to go to "Romney with ease." It also predicted an easy re-election for Senator Bob Corker. However, it noted "Tougher times for GOP Rep. Scott DesJarlais after revelations he once discussed abortion with mistress."

Endorsements

Statewide officials

• Phil Bredesen, former Governor of Tennessee

Labor unions

• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

Polling

Predictions

Results

DesJarlais won the election.

Aftermath

DailyKos noted that the race was one of the "few outliers" in 2012: "No Democratic challenger did quite so well in quite so red a district." Using regression analysis, Stewart's 44.24% tally was the second best of all Democratic candidates, compared to the 30.92% predicted share he would have gotten, all things being equal.

District 5

Cooper:
Staats:

The redrawn 5th district will represent Davidson and Dickson counties, and most of Cheatham County. It is based around Nashville, all of which was restored to the district. Previously, a sliver of southwestern Nashville had been in the 7th District. Democrat Jim Cooper has represented the 5th district since 2003, and previously represented the 4th district from 1983 until 1995.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Cooper, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brad Staats, businessman and performing artist

Eliminated in primary

• Justin Jones
• Bob Ries, business owner
• John Smith, deputy sheriff
• Tracey Tarum, avionics technician

Declined

• Beth Harwell, speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• National Association of Letter Carriers

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition

Predictions

Results

District 6

Black:

The redrawn 6th district will represent Cannon, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White, and Wilson counties, and small northern parts of Cheatham and Van Buren counties. The most populous city in the district is Cookeville. Republican Diane Black who has represented the 6th district since January 2011 ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Diane Black, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Lou Ann Zelenik, business owner and candidate for this seat in 2010

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Maggie's List
• Susan B. Anthony List

Predictions

Results

District 7

Blackburn:

The redrawn 7th district will represent Chester, Decatur, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Montgomery, Perry, Stewart, Wayne, and Williamson counties, and parts of Benton and Maury counties. The most populous city in the district is Clarksville. It is significantly more compact than its predecessor, which stretched for 200 miles from east to west but was only two miles wide in some areas of the eastern portion. Republican Marsha Blackburn who has represented the 7th district since 2003 ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Marsha Blackburn, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Credo Amouzouvik, founder and CEO of the Homeffa Foundation(a humanitarian organization for Togo)

Withdrawn

• Chris Martin

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Susan B. Anthony List

Predictions

Results

District 8

Fincher:
Dixon

The redrawn 8th district will represent Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Haywood, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Obion, Tipton, and Weakley counties, and parts of Benton and Shelby counties. The most populous city in the district is Jackson. The new district is significantly more Republican than its predecessor; the legislature pushed it further into the heavily Republican Memphis suburbs. Republican Stephen Fincher, who has represented the 8th district since January 2011, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Stephen Fincher, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Annette Justice

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Timothy Dixon, auto industry manager

Eliminated in primary

• John Bradley
• Christa Stoscheck

Declined

• Roy Herron, state senator and nominee for this seat in 2010

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

By county

District 9

Cohen:

The redrawn 9th district will represent most of Shelby County, and is based around Memphis. Democrat Steve Cohen, who has represented the 9th district since 2007, ran for re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Steve Cohen, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Tomeka Hart, Memphis City Schools board member

Withdrawn

• Thomas Long, Memphis City Court Clerk

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• George Flinn, radiologist, radio magnate and candidate for the 8th district in 2010

Eliminated in primary

• Charlotte Bergmann, business manager and nominee for this seat in 2010
• Ernest Lunati
• Rollin Stooksberry

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• National Association of Letter Carriers

Predictions

Results

References

References

1. (November 6, 2012). "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2012". Tennessee Secretary of State.
2. (2011). "All Key Dates". [[Tennessee Secretary of State.
3. "Congressional Redistricting Maps in Detail: Congressional Statewide Map". [[Tennessee General Assembly]].
4. Buckles, Kristen. (February 7, 2012). "GOP Hears Candidates, Roe Staffer Bill Darden". [[The Greeneville Sun]].
5. "NALC-ENDORSED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES". NALC.
6. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
7. (November 2, 2012). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com.
8. [http://www.rollcall.com/politics/race-ratings-chart-2012-house-elections.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
9. [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2012-house/ Crystal Ball], {{As of. 2012. 11. 05
10. [http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/ratings/house House Race Ratings], ''The New York Times'', {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
11. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/house/2012_elections_house_map.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
12. (November 3, 2012). "House Ratings". The Hill.
13. Carroll, Chris. (October 1, 2011). "Wamp's son to challenge Fleischmann". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
14. Harrison, James. (December 13, 2011). "Two new candidates in 3rd District race, Bennett bows out". Nooga.com.
15. Harrison, James. (February 3, 2012). "Mayfield enters 3rd District race". Nooga.com.
16. Harrison, James. (September 7, 2011). "Howard-Hill plans to challenge Fleischmann in GOP primary". Nooga.com.
17. Harrison, James. (October 8, 2011). "Savas Kyriakidis "strongly considering" 2nd run for congress". Nooga.com.
18. Harrison, James. (December 2, 2011). "Robin Smith announces she will not run for Fleischmann's seat in 2012". Nooga.com.
19. Carroll, Chris. (November 26, 2011). "Tres Wittum could join Republican race for 3rd District seat". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
20. Harrison, James. (January 23, 2012). "Headrick latest Democrat to join 3rd District race". Nooga.com.
21. Harrison, James. (December 15, 2011). "Taylor first Democrat to announce bid to unseat Fleischmann". Nooga.com.
22. Harrison, James. (February 7, 2012). "First Independent files papers for 3rd District race". Nooga.com.
23. "Endorsed Candidates".
24. Stockard, Sam. (January 23, 2012). "Ketron won't run for Congress". [[The Daily News Journal]].
25. (January 9, 2012). "Tennessee Sen. Jim Tracy says he won't run in 4th District congressional race". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
26. [http://votesmart.org/candidate/123473 Project Vote Smart]
27. Sher, Andy. (November 17, 2011). "State Sen. Eric Stewart announces run for Congress". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
28. (January 20, 2012). "Eric Stewart Named One of Nation's Top Congressional Candidates: Gaining Momentum, DCCC Names Tenn. Fourth Congressional 'Emerging Race'". Tennessee Democratic Party.
29. Humphrey, Tom. (August 16, 2012). "Political Notebook". m.knoxnews.com.
30. Quimby, Kelly. (September 27, 2012). "Stewart planning to participate in three debates, sans opponent". Columbia Daily Herald.
31. Carroll, Chris. (August 14, 2012). "Rep. Scott DeJarlais rejects three debates with challenger". Times Free Press.
32. Durham, Steve. (September 29, 2012). "Opinion: Why Won't Desjarlais Debate?". [[Chattanoogan]].
33. Editorial Board. (August 10, 2012). "Opinion: No good reason to avoid debates". Times Free Press.
34. Harrison, James. (October 8, 2012). "Rep. Scott DesJarlais stifles opponents during pro forma session".
35. Sher, Andy. (October 6, 2012). "Stewart: DesJarlais neglects district's farmers". Times Free Press.
36. (2010-09-16). "Old Divorce File Riles Tennessee". Roll Call.
37. Woods, Jeff. (September 16, 2010). "Papers from DesJarlais' Bitter Divorce Pop Up in Media". National Scene.
38. McAuliff, Michael. (October 10, 2012). "Scott DesJarlais, Pro-Life Republican Congressman And Doctor, Pressured Mistress Patient To Get Abortion". huffingtonpost.com.
39. Shelzig, Erik. (October 10, 2012). "Transcript: Rep. DesJarlais urged abortion". [[Associated Press]], via Yahoo News.
40. Woods, Jeff. (October 10, 2012). "Transcript: DesJarlais Pressured Patient/Mistress to Get Abortion". [[Nashville Scene]].
41. Broden, Scott. (October 10, 2012). "Updated: Stewart contends DesJarlais can't be trusted". djn.com.
42. Flessner, Dave. (October 12, 2012). "Scott DesJarlais lashes out at Eric Stewart". Times Free Press.
43. Press services. (October 12, 2012). "Tennessee Rep. Scott DesJarlais: Mistress wasn't pregnant, no abortion". [[The Commercial Appeal]].
44. Schelzig, Erik. (October 12, 2012). "DesJarlais endorsement vanishes from Romney site". [[Associated Press]].
45. Hale, Steven. (October 13, 2012). "DesJarlais Plays the Victim in Radio Appearance, Claims 'No Pregnancy and No Abortion'". [[Nashville Scene]].
46. Hale, Steven. (October 12, 2012). "TFP: DesJarlais Says He Knew Woman Wasn't Pregnant". [[Nashville Scene]].
47. "Tennessee 4th District - DesJarlais vs. Stewart". [[RealClearPolitics]].
48. Carroll, Chris. (September 11, 2012). "Scott DesJarlais donations outpace Eric Stewart's". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
49. Sisk, Chaz. (October 7, 2012). "Rep. Scott DesJarlais, Sen. Eric Stewart both run as outsiders in 4th District contest: Anti-Washington strategies are key". [[The Tennessean]].
50. TV News staff. (October 10, 2012). "Political Analysts Weigh In On DesJarlais Scandal". News Channel 5.
51. (October 14, 2012). "RACE FOR THE 4TH: State's most contentious U.S. House battle has everyone talking". Shreveport Times.
52. Broden, Scott. (October 13, 2012). "Backers believe Stewart can mend fences: But in GOP county, finding enough believers is challenge". dnj.com.
53. (November 5, 2012). "A state-by-state look at Tuesday's election". Yahoo News.
54. Sher, Andy. (September 28, 2012). "Phil Bredesen backs Eric Stewart in 4th District". Times Free Press.
55. "Election 2012: Boilermakers recommend candidates". International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.
56. "RED TO BLUE 2012". DCCC.
57. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121103081819/http://www.nooga.com/158086/embattled-rep-scott-desjarlais-declares-double-digit-lead-in-4th-district-race/ Public Opinion Strategies (R-DesJarlais)]
58. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104025609/http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/TNCD4poll.pdf Myers Research/Strategic Services (D-Stewart)]
59. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
60. Schelzig, Erik. (November 7, 2012). "DesJarlais re-elected despite abortion revelations". WSMV-TV.
61. Xenocrypt. (November 12, 2012). "A Surprisingly Predictable and Nationalized House Election? A preliminary look at 2012 candidates.". DailyKos.
62. Sher, Andy. (November 10, 2011). "Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell will consider bid for Congress". [[Chattanooga Times Free Press]].
63. "Blue Dog Membership". Blue Dog Coalition.
64. "Maggie's List is pleased to endorse these conservative women candidates:". Maggie's List.
65. (27 June 2012). "2012 Candidate List".
66. Erwin, Lee. (March 20, 2012). "Amouzouvik Announces Candidacy for U.S. Congress". ClarksvilleNow.com.
67. Sullivan, Bartholomew. (November 22, 2012). "Rep.-elect Stephen Fincher already files for re-election in 2012". [[The Commercial Appeal]].
68. Cass, Michael. (January 27, 2012). "State Sen. Roy Herron won't run for office this year". [[The Tennessean]].
69. (November 2, 2010). "USHCounty". Tennessee Secretary of State.
70. McMillin, Zack. (May 31, 2011). "Memphis school board member Tomeka Hart to run for Congress in 2012". [[The Commercial Appeal]].
71. Sanford, Otis L.. (November 13, 2011). "Otis L. Sanford: Challenging Cohen is task with long odds". [[The Commercial Appeal]].
72. Baker, Jackson. (February 24, 2012). "George Flinn Mulling Over 9th District Race (that's right, 9th!)". [[Memphis Flyer]].