Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) may just be surviving against a very tough Republican primary challenge back home, despite a well-funded effort by many in the party to force him out of office.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, DesJarlais currently has 34,787 votes, for 44.89 percent of the vote, against state Sen. Jim Tracy's 34,752 votes, or 44.85 percent — a lead of just 35 votes, out of nearly 77,500 total votes counted. Another four candidates have also split a total of 7,953 additional votes in the Republican primary.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
DesJarlais has been in big political trouble ever since the late days of the 2012 campaign, and continuing afterward. Records of his very messy first marriage and 2001 divorce came to public light, including that DesJarlais — who has run as a staunchly anti-abortion conservative — supported his first wife in having two abortions. The records also said that DesJarlais had multiple affairs, including with patients at his medical practice, and he even encouraged one of the women to get an abortion.
DesJarlais would explain that in fact there was no abortion — as the woman was not actually pregnant, after all. DesJarlais also said that he has had a "near perfect" marriage to his second wife, and that he wished to be judged on that instead of the very difficult earlier period in his life.
-
Who were the ‘weekend snipers’ of Sarajevo?Under the Radar Italian authorities launch investigation into allegations far-right gun enthusiasts paid to travel to Bosnian capital and shoot civilians ‘for fun’ during the four-year siege
-
A free speech debate is raging over sign language at the White HouseTalking Points The administration has been accused of excluding deaf Americans from press briefings
-
Glinda vs. Elphaba, Jennifer Lawrence vs. postpartum depression and wilderness vs. progress in November moviesthe week recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘Die My Love’ and ‘Train Dreams’
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
-
Trump pardons 2020 fake electors, other GOP alliesSpeed Read The president pardoned Rudy Giuliani and more who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss
-
Supreme Court to decide on mail-in ballot limitsSpeed Read The court will determine whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day
-
Democrats split as Senate votes to end shutdownSpeed Read The proposed deal does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Democrats’ main demand
-
USDA orders states to ‘undo’ full SNAP paymentsSpeed Read The Trump administration is telling states not to pay full November food stamp benefits
-
Senate takes first step to end record shutdownSpeed Read Eight senators in the Democratic caucus voted with Republicans to advance legislation to reopen the government
-
Has Zohran Mamdani shown the Democrats how to win again?Today’s Big Question New York City mayoral election touted as victory for left-wing populists but moderate centrist wins elsewhere present more complex path for Democratic Party
