DesJarlais survives primary challenge
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) won his GOP primary Thursday night.
DesJarlais led Grant Starrett, a 28-year-old lawyer who served as a former aide to Mitt Romney, 51 to 44 percent, when The Associated Press called the race with 84 percent of the votes counted.
I just called to congratulate Congressman DesJarlais, and I wish him the best in his work as a Representative for our district.
— Grant Starrett (@GrantforTN) August 5, 2016
{mosads}Starrett poured nearly $900,000 into the race to self-fund his campaign, according to the Times-Free Press, and he ran to the right of DesJarlais, a House Freedom Caucus member.
DesJarlais sought to paint his challenger as an out-of-state “trust fund millionaire.”
DesJarlais escaped yet another tight primary challenge after winning by just 38 votes in a recount in 2014.
The pro-life Tennessee Republican has been plagued for years by the 2012 revelation that he pressured his ex-wife to get abortions and that he had sexual relations with his patients while he was practicing medicine.
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