One of the state House races recently rated as “tossup” is in the 36th District (Campbell and Union Counties), where freshman Rep. Chad Faulkner lost in the GOP primary to Dennis Powers. Powers will face Democrat Keith Clotfelter in a race that is being targeted by the respective national party organizations.

Not that it matters much now, but there is always a story behind an incumbent being pushed from office by a member of his or her own party. (See Murkowski, Lisa.) Curiosity got me asking around, and a social media acquaintance provided some background.

Here is the story as told by Twitter friend @tim_knight:

Dennis Powers was an early organizer of the Tea Party movement in the 36th District and saw that Tennessee is in a position to be a major player in the national debate over Obama-care and state sovereignty issues. Faulkner is a conservative, but his focus has been mainly on local issues and law enforcement. In fact, as Powers was looking at entering this race Faulkner’s campaign had basically stated that Faulkner was planning on a run for Sheriff in Union County. Knowing that this particular house seat needed a strong conservative, Powers put together a team and started building a campaign. Then at the last minute, Faulkner said he was not running for Sheriff and said he was running for his seat. Of course by this time Powers had a campaign geared up and I suppose he sensed that Faulkner was not as dedicated to some key issues of the conservative movement. So he decided to stay in. Powers is well-known and liked among conservatives and the GOP in the area, so he won the primary fairly easily.

Knight went on to say that he believes Powers to be in a good position to win the general and thus keep the seat in the Republican column. But Clotfelter is appealing to the district’s conservative voters, and distancing himself from national Democratic leaders.

It is interesting to hear so much anti-D.C. rhetoric (on both sides) and yet to see the same candidates accepting attention and money from the national parties, which are both physically and psychologically based in Washington.