TN-06: Gordon to Retire

[ccharles000]

More bad news for the DCCC:

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) will retire after 13 terms, he announced today in a press release, becoming the 4th Dem in a potentially competitive district to step down in the past 4 weeks.

First elected in 1984, Gordon had a solid hold on his seat, winning his past 5 re-election bids with more than 60% of the vote; his office said he has never lost any of the 15 counties he represents. He is stepping down, he said, after re-evaluating his future.

"When I was elected, I was the youngest member of the Tennessee congressional delegation; now, I'm one of the oldest. In fact, I have members of my staff who weren't even born when I took office. That tells me it's time for a new chapter," Gordon said in a statement.

At a PVI of R+13, this seat will be even tougher than John Tanner's open 8th District (R+6) to defend. While Al Gore just barely lost Gordon's district in 2000, Barack Obama was crushed here by 25 points last year. (John Kerry didn't fare much better in the interim, losing by 20 points.)

It's unclear whether Dems have anyone on the farm team who will step up to run for the seat. For the Republicans, a primary is expected between Rutherford Co. GOP chair Lou Ann Zelenik and state Sen. Jim Tracy.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/6023/tn06-gordon-to-retire

[Kdillard]

1. crap.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Gore did well there because it was his district when he served in the House