The last time this happened in Tennesseee politics was 1966. From AP-
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Being linked to "big oil" turned into a big problem for Tennessee freshman Rep. David Davis, who became the first congressman from that state to lose in a primary in more than four decades.The TN first Congressional district has been firmly Republican territory for over a century. From 1921 to 1996, the district had exactly two congressman, B Carroll Reece who was once Republican National Chairman and Jimmy Quillen who was ranking Republican on the House Rules committee for over a decade. Barring some controversy it is safe to say Phil Roe will be elected in November to represent the TN 1st Congressional District.Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe beat Davis by a 500-vote margin Thursday in the solidly Republican 1st District in the northeastern corner of the state.
Roe's victory came after a bruising campaign in which he accused Davis of selling out to "big oil."
Congressional incumbents from Tennessee are rarely voted out of office. Statewide, the last time an incumbent was defeated in a party primary was 1966 when Democrat Tom Murray lost to Ray Blanton in what was then the 7th District. Blanton won the general election then became governor in 1974.
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A bit of an error there. Th... (Below threshold)1. Posted by The Exposer | August 9, 2008 9:42 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
A bit of an error there. There were 5 Congressmembers from TN-1 from 1921-1997, and 2 since 1997.
Brazilla Carroll Reece served on 3 separate occasions (1921-31; 1933-47; 1951-61). Reece was beaten by an "Independent Republican" in 1930, Oscar Byrd Lovette, but reclaimed his seat from Lovette in 1932. Reece retired in 1946 to become the first Southerner to head the RNC and presided over the landslide victory for the GOP for Congress. 2 years later, he ran on a ticket with Roy Acuff (the Country Music legend) for U.S. Senator (Acuff for Governor) but lost in a bad year for the GOP.
Dayton Phillips had succeeded Reece in 1947 and served two terms, but Reece's desire to reclaim his office was overwhelming, and he beat Phillips in the 1950 primary and served until his death in 1961.
Reece's widow, Louise Goff Reece (scion of the West Virginia Goffs, for whom they had 2 members serve in the U.S. Senate as Republicans), served the remainder of his term from 1961-63. She was then succeeded by Jimmy Quillen, who served for the next 34 years until 1997.
Quillen was succeeded by the only Republican to serve as House Speaker in the TN legislature (from 1969-71) from Reconstruction to date, William Jenkins (1997-2007).
David Davis, of course, was the first Republican to be beaten after a single term since Lovette in 1932.
Disappointingly for many TN Conservatives, Davis was considered one of us, and Dr. Roe decidedly not, who unfortunately represents the mindset of some East TN RINOs that prefer to supplicate themselves before Democrats (one reason why the Dems still control the TN House for many years after they stopped receiving a majority of the vote). Roe was clearly elected on the strength of Democrat liberals crossing over into the GOP primary, since Democrats have virtually no chance of winning the general election.
1. Posted by The Exposer | August 9, 2008 9:42 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 9, 2008 09:42