"Big Oil" Incumbent loses primary

[kevinmc]

Incumbent Tenn. congressman loses primary

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP)— A freshman U.S. representative on Thursday became the first Tennessee congressman to lose a primary since 1966 after a bruising campaign in which he was accused of selling out to "Big Oil."

Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe beat freshman U.S. Rep. David Davis by a 500-vote margin in the solidly Republican 1st District in the northeastern corner of the state.

Davis left his campaign party Thursday night without conceding the race, but Roe declared victory in a speech to supporters.

"I will try to serve you with dignity and honesty, just like we ran this campaign," Roe said. "Ain't it fun to win one?"

With all precincts reporting, Roe had 25,916 votes, or 50 percent of the vote, to Davis' 25,416 votes, or 49 percent.

Congressional incumbents from Tennessee are rarely voted out of office. Voters in the 1st District haven't ousted an incumbent congressman since 1930…….

[calimary]

1. As long as it's a republi-CON, I'm happy.

I don't need much!

[FrenchieCat]

2. This guy? The little one?

[kevinmc]

3. I don't know .... what I find great is a Republican for Big Oil got booted .....

hope that carries across the country.