U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, in a press release posted by Tom Humphrey, says he has filed a bill that would require Congress to pass its annual spending measure by the deadline if members want to get paid on time. The Senate sponsor is Republican Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada.
Perhaps not coincidentally, this is item number one on NoLabels’ list of 12 suggestions to “Make Congress Work.”
While several states have adopted new district maps, and more are in the approval process, Tennessee’s redistricting progress is slowed by partisanship and secrecy. Here are some thoughts about what we do know at this point. Continue reading
Andy Sher examines a rich swathe of Tennessee’s political history by stacking-up Weston Wamp’s bid for the Third District seat his father recently held against the fortunes of other politicians’ sons and daughters. One forgets just how many names in our electoral lexicon have been names that previous generations knew well. Baker, Clement, Cooper, Duncan, Ford, Gore, McWherter, and Turner are just some of the families that have contributed more than one member.
It’s a tradition that goes back at least as far as President John Quincy Adams. As the article points out, not all such campaigns are successful. Mike McWherter tested the waters for a 2008 run against U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, then quickly decided that the temperature was icy. Two years later, he was all in for another statewide race, this time for governor. His opponent prevailed.
There’s one more local example of political offspring: Oscar Brock, son of former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock, ran for the state Senate seat vacated by former Sen. Ward Crutchfield (another political family, with ties to still others). The younger Brock happened to lose that election, but I felt it was worth mentioning here because it was a particularly amicable campaign, in both the GOP primary that Oscar won and the general election against the eventual winner, Sen. Andy Berke.
I have created a page that lists the whole congressional delegation for the 112th Congress, which begins in January. The information listed with each member will be enhanced to include, among other things, campaign finance disclosures, voting records, and full contact info. (Right now I have websites and social media addresses, so you can probably get there from here.) Your suggestions are welcome for what else would be useful information to include.
As I was putting the info together, I noticed that there were often two current or incoming members who shared a particular attribute. Here are a few of those pairings:
There is also a trio: Black, Blackburn, and Cohen are all former state senators. (Black is still one, as of this writing.)
There is only one Lamar.
There is only one who was elected before 2002: U.S. Rep. John “Jimmy” Duncan, who was elected in 1988.
Where have all the good times gone? We all know that politics is no Sunday afternoon in the park, but a recent eruption of fireworks in a Nashville state House race has a few politicos on fire.
This story is a little dated, but I figure it’s better to hear about it later than not at all. (Besides, I don’t feel tardy.) Congressional candidate David Hall, who won in a crowded GOP primary the chance to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper and eight independent candidates, has a son (also a Republican) in politics as well. His name is Dymon Dave Hall, and he is seeking election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 50th District.
Everybody wants some kind of familiarity with the person they’re electing, which is probably why the Halls, pére et fils, were planning on running with the devil we know, rather than the one we don’t, and thus the name chosen for the ballot was Dave Hall. That caused Hall’s Democratic independent opponent, Dave Rosenberg, to come a little unchained, so he sued. Now it’s all over but the shouting, as a chancery court judge issued a fair warning, and said that the full name (or the name used to file, which omitted the “Dave”) must appear on the ballot, or else a summons would ensue.
Meanwhile, another independent candidate, Nina Ground, and incumbent Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton) probably feel like lonely ships upon the water as they watch their two opponents light up the sky. The seat is one of several drawing a lot of “get out and push” in this year’s cycle.
So, when push comes to shove, will the Republicans (or Democrats) end up with a majority of 51? 50? Faced with a loss of control, the GOP will once again try to top Jimmy Naifeh, while Democrats jump at the chance to regain their edge. Whoever wins will surely dance the night away on November 2, as they wish the other side “happy trails.”
I’ll wait for your reactions.
(Updated to correct party affiliations and number of candidates.)