House Agriculture Committee member Scott DesJarlais is the undisputed winner of the Republican primary in Tennessee’s fourth congressional district. His chief rival, state Sen Jim Tracy, conceded on Monday, said Roll Call. Tracy trailed DesJarlais by 38 voters when the results were certified. A second-term representative, DesJarlais was one of the most vulnerable incumbents this cycle due to personal scandal related to divorce, said Roll Call. He ranks 12th in seniority among 25 Republicans on the agriculture panel.
In a statement, Tracy said it would be unduly disruptive to file a challenge, said Politico. It quoted Tracy as saying, “A contest would not be the right thing for the Republican Party and the conservative cause in Tennessee.”.
Arguments are set for Thursday over Senator Thad Cochran’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that would void his Republican nomination for a seventh term from Mississippi, says the Associated Press. Cochran is the GOP leader on the Senate Agriculture Committee. His attorneys say state Senator Chris McDaniel filed suit two weeks too late and wrongly named Cochran as the defendant when he didn’t conduct the primary.
Hollis McGehee, the retired judge appointed to handle the case, set Thursday for pre-trial arguments, including the motion to dismiss, and a trial date of Sept 15. McDaniel contends there are sufficient irregular votes to erase Cochran’s 7,667-vote victory margin in a June 24 runoff with McDaniel.