Bob Clement and Lincoln Davis take different sides in Democratic primary for 7th Congressional District seat

Former Democratic congressmen Bob Clement and Lincoln Davis are taking opposing sides in their party’s 7^th Congressional District primary where Republican state Sen. Mark Green is unopposed for the Republican nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn.

Clement, who served as 5^th Congressional District from 1988 until 2003, is backing Justin Kanew, a film writer and producer from College Grove in Williamson County  Davis, who was the 4^th Congressional District representative from 2003 until 2011, is backing Matt Reel of Primm Springs in Hickman County.

Davis has been acting as a surrogate campaigner for Reel, who has been on active military duty. (Previous post HERE.)

Here’s the Kanew campaign’s press release on Clement’s endorsement:

COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – Former Congressman Bob Clement today endorsed Justin Kanew, candidate for Congress in the 7th Congressional District.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Middle and West Tennessee during my life and my career, and after spending time with Justin, I’m happy to support him in his campaign,” Clement said. “He’s working hard and has been to all 19 counties in the district. We need someone who’s willing to spend time listening to Tennesseans about their hopes and their worries.”

Clement served as Congressman from the 5th Congressional District from 1988-2003. Elected to the Tennessee Public Service Commission in 1972 at the age of 29, he remains the youngest person elected to statewide office.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Clement was also a longtime member of the Tennessee National Guard, retiring as a colonel. While in Congress, he served on the Veterans Affairs Committee and worked to secure major upgrades and improvements to Middle Tennessee’s Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals.

“I’m so honored and excited to have Congressman Clement’s endorsement,” said Kanew. “I have the greatest respect for his service to Tennessee and his knowledge of Middle and West Tennessee. I deeply value his input into my campaign.”

Other Democratic leaders endorsing Kanew’s campaign include:

Honorable Johnny Shaw, State Representative, District 80

• Michele Bewley, Chair, Indivisible – Congressional District 7
• Bob Freeman, Candidate, State House of Representatives, District 56
• Cecil Irvin, Vice-Chair, Madison County Democratic Party
• Rashidah Leverett, Candidate, Montgomery County Commission, District 5
• Alan Martin, Chair, Giles County Democratic Party
• Sara Melamed, Williamson County Democratic Party Executive Committee and candidate for Williamson County Commission, District 5
• Wade Munday, Candidate, State Senate, District 25
• Todd Sharp, Past Chair, Tennessee Democratic Chairs Association; Past Chair, Williamson County Democratic Party
• Jerry Turner, Chair, Lewis County Democratic Party
• Jessica Yokley, Chair, Lawrence County Democratic Party