Roe challenger opens a campaign headquarters
U.S. Army veteran Todd McKinley, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Phil Roe in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary, has set up a campaign headquarters and is voicing optimism about his chances despite a $475,000 lead the incumbent has in campaign money, reports the Johnson City Press.
Matlock congressional campaign and business under ‘almost constant’ cyberattacks
State Rep. Jimmy Matlock’s congressional campaign released a statement Friday saying their campaign, and Matlock’s business, have been facing “an almost constant stream” of cyberattacks, reports the News Sentinel.
“We have filed a police report on the illegal hijacking of our staffer’s cell-phone and have retained a cyber-crime forensic investigator,” the release stated. “We are relatively certain who is behind it because they left a trail a mile wide and are just gathering the remaining evidence.”
Mayor running for Congress, former sheriff running for legislature squabble in hallway, exchange insults afterwards
Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who is running for a seat in Congress, and former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchinson, who is running for a seat in the state House, had a heated exchange when they crossed paths in Knoxville’s City-County building recently, reports the News Sentinel.
The May 10 incident was caught on a security camera video, but without any audio. The two men offer differing accounts of the verbal exchange, though both say it included anonymous emails about Burchett and his stepson. The two have a political history: Burchett defeated Hutchinson in the 2010 mayor’s race.
Incumbent Duncan endorses Matlock in 2nd Congressional District GOP primary
U.S. Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr. on Tuesday announced he was endorsing State Rep. Jimmy Matlock for the congressional seat that has been tied to the Duncan name for more than half a century, reports the News Sentinel.
Former legislator loses current job after accessing confidential records for political smear
Former state Rep. Chad Faulkner (R-Luttrell) as resigned his position with the Loudon County Sheriff’s office after being confronted with evidence he accessed confidential records used as part of a political smear campaign against Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett’s congressional campaign, reports the News Sentinel.
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 7th 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 5th 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 4th Congressional District representative from 2003 until 2011, is backing Matt Reel of Primm Springs in Hickman County.
Green adds $200K in new self-funding to build fat money lead over competing Democrats
Though without opposition in the 7th Congressional District Republican primary, state Sen. Mark Green loaned his campaign another $200,000 in the first quarter of 2018 – making a total of $500,000 in self-funding so far — and collected $267,949 in contributions, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Corlew puts $1.3M into 6th Congressional District campaign, topping Rose’s $1M
Bob Corlew reports loaning $1.3 million to his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 6th Congressional District in his initial disclosure report to the Federal Election Commission.
That put him slightly ahead of John Rose in cash on hand as of March 31. Rose had loaned his campaign $500,000 and added another $500,000 loan in the new report for a $1 million self-financing total. Both men are dramatically ahead, at least financially speaking, of state Rep. Judd Matheny of Tullahoma. Corlew contends that Matheny’s campaign is actually in debt.
Matlock leads Burchett in 2nd Congressional District fundraising
State Rep. Jimmy Matlock of Lenoir City raised and spent more money in his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District in the first quarter of 2018 than any other candidate, including Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, according to disclosure statements filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Aided by another $50,000 personal loan, the Matlock campaign has also built up a higher cash balance than Burchett’s campaign in the race to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr.
Flinn puts $1.4M into rematch with Kustoff
Multimillionaire perennial candidate George Flynn, who lost to Rep. David Kustoff by less than 3,000 votes in the 13-candidate 2016 Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District, has put $1.4 million of personal funds into his 2018 effort to unseat the incumbent, according to a new report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
