(The Center Square) – Democrats and Republicans will have contested primaries in Tennessee’s newly configured 9th Congressional District.
Congressional candidates in the affected districts could either stay in their current congressional contest or requalify in a new district for the Aug. 16 primary.
State Rep. Justin Peason, D-Memphis, was facing incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen when state lawmakers redrew the district, stretching it from Memphis to the middle of Tennessee along the state’s southern border. Cohen announced on Friday that he will not seek another term.
State Sen. London Lamar, also of Memphis, formally announced her candidacy on Saturday after qualifying on Friday. Democrat Jim Torino, of Columbia, who qualified in the former 5th District, is also in the race for the 9th. M. LaTroy A-Williams is continuing his candidacy in the Democratic primary.
The Republican primary for the 9th district will pit two state lawmakers against each other. Memphis Republican Sen. Brent Taylor announced his candidacy just hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional map. Rep. Todd Warner of Lewisburg will also run, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Also in the GOP race are Charlotte Bergmann of Memphis and Jeremy Thompson of Fayetteville. The independent candidates are Dennis Clark of Memphis and Michelle Davis Head of Lewisburg.
The new congressional maps divided Memphis-Shelby County into the 5th, 8th and 9th. Some candidates decided to run in other districts, while some did not. Candidates are not required to live in the district they represent.
The Republican contest for the 5th District remains unchanged with former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher challenging incumbent Andy Ogles, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Candidates running as Democrats are Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, DeVante R. Hill, Rachel Hurley, Carrie Ann Iacomini and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. James A. Johnson and Micheál O’Leary are running as independent candidates.
Metro Nashville City Councilman Mike Cortese, a Democrat, chose to leave the 5th District race and run in the 4th District. Other Democrats in the race are Victoria Broderick, Cliff Huffman, Tim Lanier and Joyce Neal. The seat is held by Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who is running for reelection. Other Republicans running are Thomas E. Davis, Joshua James and Harold Jones. Jacob Kristopher Anders is running as an independent.
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff does not have another Republican challenger seeking his seat. Four Democrats qualified: Dewey Gordon Bryan, Jordan D. Hinders, Heidi Kuhn and Leonard Perkins. Independents Adam D. Austill, Wendell “Wells” Blankenship, Antonio Futch, Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses, Horace Taylor and Henry J. Ward, III also qualified.
