Tim Burchett, John Rose, and David Kustoff Win Contested GOP Congressional Primaries

John Rose, Tim Burchett, David Kustoff

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett won the hotly contested 2nd Congressional District Republican primary over State Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City) by 12 points on Thursday, 48 percent to 36 percent. Final results, as provided by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, were: Tim Burchett 47,864 Jimmy Matlock 35,845 Sarah Ashley Nickloes 10,955 Jason Frederick Emert 2,304 In the 6th Congressional District, former Agriculture Commissioner John Rose defeated former Judge Bob Corlew by 10 points, 41 percent to 31 percent. Final results, as provided by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, were: John Rose 43,788 Bob Corlew 33,088 Judd Matheny 16,753 In the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-08) defeated Dr. George Flinn by 16 points, 56 percent to 40 percent. Final results, as provided by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, were: David Kustoff 57,733 George S. Flinn, Jr. 40,893 Colleen Owens 4,456  

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Tim Burchett Airs First TV Ad in 2nd Congressional District GOP Primary Battle

Tim Burchett

Republican Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett has released his first television ad in his bid to succeed retiring Congressman Jimmy Duncan in East Tennessee’s Second Congressional District. The ad is running district-wide on both cable and broadcast TV. Titled “East Tennessee Conservative,” the ad highlights Burchett’s conservative record, his commitment to East Tennessee, and his support for President Trump. You can watch the ad here: Here is the transcript of the ad: I’m Tim Burchett, and this – this is my home I’m running for Congress to help President Trump shake up Washington I’ve taken on some tough fights As mayor, I killed a huge property tax increase, and I paid down the county’s debt I fought for term limits and stopped partial birth abortion I’m proud to be pro-Trump, pro-life, pro-America And I’m proud to be from East Tennessee I’m Tim Burchett and I approve this message Because Washington D.C. needs an East Tennessee conservative Burchett has served as Mayor of Knox County since 2010. He previously served in the Tennessee State Legislature. Burchett is facing off against State Representative Jimmy Matlock, businessman Jason Emert, Hank Hamblin, and Ashley Nickloes for the Republican nomination. The primary election date in…

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Second District Congressional Republican Primary Fundraising Details Show a Race That is Heating Up

The Republican primary to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-02) is heating up as Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, businessman Jason Emert and State Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City) vie for the job. First quarter 2018 fundraising reports reveal that all three will have significant resources in the race. Local political observers have said that Burchett has the advantage due to his strong support and high name recognition in Knox County, which is the largest population center in the Second District. However, there are no current public polls that have been released that might give a snapshot regarding the status of the race. The most recent Federal Election Commission fundraising reports filed by the candidates provide lots of information. The primary election date is August 2, 2018. Tim Burchett (pictured, left) Burchett reported raising $84,170.57 in total donations in the first quarter of 2018 (January-March) with $234,821.10 cash on hand. Burchett has raised a total of $377,342.18 in the race so far, with no personal loans from Burchett to his campaign. Among the major notable donors to the Burchett campaign in the first quarter are Joan and Victor Ashe (former Knoxville Mayor and…

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Nashville Scene Confirms Tennessee Star Reporting: ‘Possible That The Tennessean Bought Into a Smear Campaign’ Claiming FBI Asking Questions About Tim Burchett

The Nashville Scene published a detailed 3,000 word article on Tuesday by former Metro Pulse reporter Cari Wade Gervin that eviscerates the credibility of the four sources upon which Tennessean reporters Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert relied to form the basis of their December 1 story, in which they reported that sources said the FBI was asking questions about Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. The Tennessee Star reported on the story by Tennessean reporters Boucher and Ebert with great skepticism three days later on December 4. “Relying upon claims from an ex-wife with a criminal history, three anonymous sources, and two unproduced documents they claim to have seen but refuse to reveal, the Knoxville News Sentinel published a story written by two Nashville-based reporters on Friday, “Sources: FBI asks questions about Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett; mayor says ‘no truth to any of it’,” The Star reported, adding: Burchett, who is term-limited in his current job, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for the Second Congressional District in the election to replace retiring Rep. John “Jimmy” Duncan (R-TN-02), where he faces a hard fought battle against State Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City). Friday’s article was written by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert, two Nashville-based…

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Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett Stands Up to Freedom From Religion Foundation

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett is not backing down in the face of a challenge from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The East Tennessee chapter of the Madison, Wisconsin-based group wants Burchett to order a county health department employee to move a personal display that references God, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel. Shawnee Casteel, the chapter’s director, said in a Nov. 8 email to the county that she saw the display while changing her legal name back to her maiden name. Casteel said the display would be OK if it were not visible to the public via a bulletin board behind the window where the employee sits. In a response Nov. 20, Burchett said he would not ask the employee to move the display. “Faith is such an important part of our lives and of all the things going on in this world … this is the place where they attack us … I think it’s very telling,” Burchett told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Written on a piece of paper, the display reads, “Just think, you’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one…

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Second Congressional District GOP Fundraising Reports Signal Epic Battle Ahead Between Burchett and Matlock

The first fundraising reports from the GOP primary battle between Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and State Representative Jimmy Matlock, who are seeking the seat in Congress being vacated by longtime Congressman Jimmy Duncan, are in. They confirm what most political insiders have expected. The first person in over a half century to serve in Congress from the Knoxville area who is not named Duncan will be an epic battle. As noted in The Tennessee Star earlier this week, Burchett surprised some observers with a strong report of $140,801.61 raised and $113,676.31 cash on hand. Burchett is a strong grassroots and populist campaigner, and he comes from the vote-rich Knox County portion of the district where he has had great success in previous elections to the State Legislature and to the County Mayor office, despite a track record of anemic fundraising. The primary questions about Burchett as a congressional candidate focused on whether or not he would raise the funds needed to win a contested congressional race. His first haul will quiet skeptics, particularly since many of his larger donors to date still have “room” within the campaign donation limits to give more. There are also plenty of other donors…

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State Representative Jimmy Matlock Kicks Off Campaign For U.S. Congress With Hundreds of Supporters

Tennessee Star

  State Representative Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City), who announced August 3 his campaign to run for the 2nd District Congressional seat, following Representative John J. “Jimmy” Duncan announcement that he will not seek re-election, held a campaign kick-off Saturday at his family farm, with hundreds of supporters in attendance. Matlock, a small business owner of four-location Matlock Tire Service & Auto repair, has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2007 for District 21, which includes parts of Loudon and Monroe Counties. Prior to the 2017 session of the General Assembly, Matlock made a run against House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), losing by just ten votes. At his campaign kick-off, Matlock expressed his gratitude, saying “I see so many friends, colleagues and supporters here tonight, and I can’t thank you all enough.” Matlock spoke of shared values, “This is about what you believe. And it’s what I believe. We believe in America. We believe in the foundations of this country – the Constitution. We believe that the federal government should be very small, and not large. We believe that people should be responsible for themselves, not unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats. We want less government, not more.” Known for his…

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