Reeves defeats Carr in Senate District 14 Republican primary

Murfreesboro businessman Shane Reeves defeated former state Rep. Joe Carr Thursday to win the Republican nomination in a Senate District 14 special election. Final unofficial results show Reeves with 4,720 votes to 2,556 for Carr (64.87 percent to 35.13 percent).

Democrat Gayle Jordan, a Murfreesboro attorney, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She got 574 votes and will face Reeves on March 13 in the special general election to fill the seat vacated by former Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who resigned to become state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Department’s rural development office in Tennessee.

In a victory celebration at the Parthenon Grille in Murfreesboro, the Daily News Journal reports that Reeves  talked about a campaign that involved meeting teachers, business people, farmers and many others at coffee houses, football stadiums, courthouses and other locations.

“It’s been a great adventure,” Reeves told the cheering crowd. “We have work to do. Let’s party.”

Reeves, 50, and his wife, Amanda, have three children. Reeves worked as a pharmacist before he and Rick Sain established Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services in 1995. They bought the business from the candidate’s father, former Murfreesboro Mayor Richard Reeves, and sold the company in 2015.

…Carr conceded through a Facebook post.

“Congratulations to Shane Reeves and his campaign on their victory tonight in the Senate District #14 Special Election,” Carr said.

UPDATE/Note: Reeves, who vigorously attacked Carr in campaign advertising, declared him “a great Tennessean and conservative” in a press release after winning he primary.

Press release from Shane Reeves campaign

Murfreesboro, TN, January 26, 2018  –– Following a few short months of campaigning over the holidays and through winter weather, Shane Reeves overcame political odds to decisively win the republican primary special election.

Reeves clear, positive message of creating jobs, rethinking healthcare, and strengthening families in the state resonated with voters from day one of his campaign.

“I am grateful for everyone who voted; whether for me or my opponent. I’m thankful for everybody who worked in either campaign. Now it’s time for Republicans to come together and take our positive message to every voter in the 14th Senate District,” Reeves added.

Reeves continued, “I want to thank my opponent for a hard fought race. Joe is a great Tennessean and conservative. Now, our focus is on March 13th and the General Election. We are not done; we’re just getting started. I will continue spreading our positive message and listening to the voters of the 14th senatorial district. My goal is to become their voice in Nashville.”

Shane Reeves will now go on to face Gayle Jordan in the general election on March 13th. The district includes parts of Rutherford County and all of Bedford, Marshall, Moore, and Lincoln counties.