United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Tennessee will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. Tennessee has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The statewide Party primary elections were held August 7, 2008.

All seats are considered safe for their incumbent parties.

District breakdown

District 1

This district covers northeast Tennessee, including all of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties and parts of Jefferson County and Sevier County. It has been represented by Republican David Davis since 2007. Republican nominee Phil Roe will face Democrat Rob Russell ( [http://www.robrussellforcongress.com/ campaign website] ), a teacher at East Tennessee State University. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Davis was narrowly defeated for renomination by Johnson City mayor Phil Roe by a margin of 50% to 49% (only 500 votes). [ [http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/roe_defeats_incumbent_davis_in_1st_district_republican_primary/12490/ Roe Defeats Davis In 1st District] TriCities.com, August 8, 2008] Davis was elected in 2006, succeeding retiring congressman Bill Jenkins, winning the Republican nomination over a crowded field which included Roe. Roe, a retired OB/GYN, was endorsed by several local newspapers, refused PAC and special interest money, and promised not to serve any more than ten years in Congress. Roe will be a shoo-in for election in a district which has only elected Republicans since 1880.

* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

This district lies in the east central part of the state, based in Knoxville and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. It has been represented by Republican Jimmy Duncan since November, 1988. He is running against Democrat Robert R. Scott ( [http://www.bobscottforcongress.com/ campaign website] ). No Democrat has held this seat since 1855. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

This district has been represented by Republican Zach Wamp since 1995. His Democratic opponent is Doug Vandagriff. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 4

This district lies in Middle and East Tennessee and includes all of Bledsoe, Campbell, Coffee, Cumberland, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Maury, Moore, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White Counties, as well as portions of Hickman, Roane, and Williamson counties. It has been represented by Democrat Lincoln Davis since 2003. He will be running against Republican Monty J. Lankford. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 5

This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including almost all of Davidson County, half of Wilson County, and half of Cheatham County. Nearly two-thirds of the district's voting population lives in Nashville. It has been represented by Democrat Jim Cooper since 2003. He will be running against Republican Gerard Donovan. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 6

This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including all of Bedford, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale Counties, as well as a portion of Wilson County. It has been represented by Democrat Bart Gordon since 1985. He will be running against Independent Chris Baker and Republican Steven L. Edmondson who ran as a write in candidate in the primary. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 7

This district lies in Middle and southwestern Tennessee, connecting suburbs of Memphis and Nashville. It has been represented by Republican Marsha Blackburn since 2003. She will be running against Democrat Randy G. Morris. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 8

This district covers roughly the northwestern part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat John S. Tanner since 1989. He will be running against Republican James Hart, who ran as a write-in candidate in the primary. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-08 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN08&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 9

This district lies in southwestern Tennessee, located entirely within Shelby County and including most of the city of Memphis. It has been represented by Democrat Steve Cohen since 2007. He will be running against independents Mary D. Wright and Dewey Clark. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Cohen defeated attorney Nikki Tinker by a 79% to 19% margin in the Democratic primary. Cohen, who is the only white congressman representing a majority black district, defeated Tinker, who is black, by a much narrower margin in 2006. There was much controversy over accusations made by the Tinker campaign that Cohen was involved with the Ku Klux Klan, and circulation of anti-Semitic propaganda against Cohen, who is Jewish. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_21CQEmVXaRLlqpw6n7eqnKIyNwD92DSS3O0 Tenn. Democrat beats lawyer who linked him to KKK] ] No Republican filed in this overwhelmingly Democratic district, although Cohen's primary victory assured him of a second term in any case.

* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-TN-09 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TN09&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

External links

* [http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/index.htm Division of Elections] from the "Tennessee Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=TN&go33.x=12&go33.y=12 U.S. Congress candidates for Tennessee] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/Tennessee Tennessee U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=TN Campaign contributions for Tennessee congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org

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