Tennessee Democrats say 111 contenders for 117 legislative districts a threat to GOP supermajority

Tennessee Democrats believe they have the greatest chance in more than a decade to recapture seats in a state legislature dominated by Republicans.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini, House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, on Friday touted the flurry of Democratic candidates running for office.

The group said 96 candidates are running for House seats and 15 for the Senate, bringing the total of contenders up to 111 out of the 117 legislative districts up for grabs.

"We have Democratic candidates who have stepped up to run for office in every part of Tennessee from Mountain City to Memphis," Mancini said. "We have Democratic candidates who have stepped up to run for every office from county commission all the way up to U.S. Senate."

Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Fitzhugh are both seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and former Gov. Phil Bredesen is running for outgoing U.S. Sen. Bob Corker's seat.

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The Democrats called the turnout of candidates "unprecedented," at least in recent history, and also said the candidates running are among the strongest that have represented the party.

"These are highly successful lawyers, doctors, a sergeant major, business people," Stewart said. "These are people who are prominent people in their communities already, and they have chosen to step up across the state."

The party leaders assured reporters that party funds would go behind the candidates as well as help with strategy and spreading the message.

In particular, the party intends to focus on having candidates separate themselves from Republicans on policy issues that have been hot topics in the state as of late and divided many Tennesseans along political lines.

Mancini said Democrats would focus on expanding affordable health care, stopping hospital closures and bringing jobs into communities where they are scarce.

Yarbro said they'll focus on pointing to issues where the current Republican-led legislature hasn't moved forward.

"For too long, too many of the legislators who work in this building have gotten a free pass" he said. "They have not been held accountable. For too long, too many of the districts across the state have not had a meaningful choice on Election Day. But in a 111 of 117 legislative districts, they going to have a choice this November."

Still, Democrats face a difficult challenge ahead, having seen their numbers dwindle in the Tennessee General Assembly over the last decade. The party hasn't won a statewide race since Bredesen won a second term in 2006. 

And Republicans, who have preached to their members the importance of the midterm elections since the start of the legislative session, say they welcome the competition and remain confident.

"Republicans welcome the opportunity to tell the Tennessee success story in each and every district of this great state," Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said Friday.

"The Republican record of success is one of low taxes, AAA credit ratings and balanced budgets," he said. "It is a record that includes the fastest improving students in the nation and the lowest unemployment rate in history. Republicans in Tennessee have done what other leaders only dream of doing."

"We feel good about our chances and relish the occasion to make our case to the people of Tennessee," McNally said. 

Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.