It may end up being a safe seat for Republicans, but incumbent Rep. David Davis of Tennessee's 1st Congressional District may have a primary fight on his hands.
Republican primary challenger and current Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe is said to have out-fundraised Davis $120K to $80K in the first quarter, according to this article in The Hill.
On the Democrat side, Rob Russell, a popular musician and ETSU instructor and director of ETSU's Writing and Communications Center, appears to be the credible candidate. There will also be three independents on the ballot.
In 2006, Davis beat the Democratic challenger (Morristown city councilman Rick Trent) in the general 108,336 to 65,538, which is a respectable showing for the Democrat in a district that leans heavily Republican. But some estimates suggest there are more independents than Republicans and Democrats combined.
Can Davis survive a primary challenge? If so, will he enter the general already weakened? Can a relatively unknown Democrat ride the wave of anti-Republican sentiment to a win?
