Aug. 6’s state and federal primary elections in Tennessee saw relatively few big surprises, with one notable exception — former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher beating incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles to become the Republican candidate in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
“So apparently, ‘Hire a farmer’ resonated with the constituents of the 5th District,” Hatcher said to supporters at his election night event in Franklin at Leiper’s Fork Distillery’s House of Spirits.
Meanwhile in Knoxville, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn celebrated her Republican gubernatorial primary win over second-place finisher U.S. Rep. John Rose by talking about Democrats. “They are running to destroy our state and nation,” Blackburn told supporters gathered at the Knoxville Convention Center.
In November’s general election, Blackburn will face off against Memphis City Councilmember Jerri Green, who handily defeated a crowded field in the Democratic primary, while Hatcher will take on his Democratic challenger, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, in the 5th Congressional District primary.
For more coverage of Thursday’s primary results — including the results of Nashville’s congressional district primaries and state House and Senate primaries — visit this link. Above, find photos from Blackburn’s, Rose’s and Hatcher’s election night parties from photographers Hamilton Matthew Masters, Ray Di Pietro and Eric England.
And stay tuned between now and Election Day for much more coverage. —D. PATRICK RODGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
