Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2014
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November 4, 2014 |
August 7, 2014 |
Charles J. Fleischmann  |
Charles J. Fleischmann |
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Cook Political Report: Solid Republican[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[2] |
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The 3rd Congressional District of Tennessee held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Charles J. Fleischmann defeated Weston Wamp, the son of former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, by less than 1,500 votes in the Republican primary.[3] Fleischmann also defeated Wamp in the 2012 primary. The rematch grew increasingly heated and negative in the weeks before the election with Fleischmann "dominating the television and radio 'air wars' in the days leading up to early voting," according to The Time Free Press.[4][5] Fleischmann defeated Mary Headrick, who did not face a Democratic challenger in the primary, and Independent Cassandra Mitchell in the general election.
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Tennessee utilizes an open primary process; a voter must either be registered with a political party or must declare his or affiliation with the party at the polls on primary election day in order to vote in that party's primary.[6][7]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by July 8, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 6, 2014.[8]
- See also: Tennessee elections, 2014
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Charles J. Fleischmann (R), who was first elected in 2010.
Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District is located in the northeastern and southeastern portions of the state and includes Anderson, Hamilton, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, Scott, and Union counties and areas of Bradley and Campbell counties.[9]
Candidates
General election candidates
August 7, 2014, Republican Primary
- Charles J. Fleischmann - Incumbent
[10][3] - Weston Wamp[10]
Election results
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Charles J. Fleischmann Incumbent |
62.4% | 97,319 | |
| Democratic | Mary Headrick | 34.6% | 53,963 | |
| Independent | Cassandra Mitchell | 3.1% | 4,768 | |
| Total Votes | 156,050 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State Vote totals above are unofficial and will be updated once official totals are made available. | ||||
Republican primary
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Charles Fleischmann Incumbent |
50.8% | 46,556 | ||
| Weston Wamp | 49.2% | 45,082 | ||
| Total Votes | 91,638 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State |
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Race background
Second meeting
Wamp ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 3rd District. He was defeated by incumbent Charles Fleischmann in the August 2, 2012, Republican primary.[11]
Endorsement controversy
Dairy magnate Scottie Mayfield told the TimesFreePress.com that two days before he endorsed Fleischmann, Wamp came to his home and secretly recorded a conversation they had about who Mayfield was going to support. Mayfield said Wamp sent him the following text message at 7:14 p.m. on March 15, 2014, after their meeting: "To protect myself, I have recorded my conversation with you and Lisa. I hope you will honor your commitment and not get involved in this race. Thank you sir."[12] Mayfield added, "I never dreamed somebody would walk into my house with a bug on. I don't want to say negative things about people. But I just don't think that's correct behavior."[12]
Debate
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Key votes
Below are important votes that Fleischmann cast during the 113th Congress.
National security
NDAA
Fleischmann voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[13]
DHS Appropriations
Fleischmann voted in support of HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[13]
Keystone Pipeline Amendment
Fleischmann voted in opposition of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[13]
CISPA (2013)
Fleischmann voted in support of HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[14] The bill was largely supported by Republicans but divided the Democratic Party.[13]
Economy
2014 Farm bill
On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[15] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[16][17] It also cut the food stamp program an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[17] Fleischmann voted with 62 other Republican representatives against the bill.
2014 Budget
On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[18][19] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582-page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.[19] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[20] It increased the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel by 1 percent, increased Head Start funding for early childhood education by $1 billion, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and protected the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Fleischmann voted with the majority of the Republican Party in favor of the bill.[18]
2013 Farm bill
- See also: United States Farm Bill 2013
Fleischmann supported the Farm Bill on July 11, 2013. The bill passed in a 216-208 vote.[21] The bill passed included farm policy but did not include food stamps.[22]
Government shutdown
- See also: United States budget debate, 2013
On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[23] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[24] Fleischmann voted to approve the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[25]
The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[26] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Fleischmann voted against HR 2775.[27]
Immigration
Morton Memos Prohibition
Fleischmann supported House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status.[28] The vote largely followed party lines.[29]
Healthcare
Repealing Obamacare
Fleischmann has supported all attempts to repeal or delay the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[30]
HR 676
On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[31] Fleischmann joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[32][33]
Endorsements
Charles Fleischmann
Fleischmann was endorsed by the following people and organizations:
Weston Wamp
Wamp was endorsed by the following people and organizations:
- Sen. Tom Coburn[36]
- Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum[37]
- Chattanooga Times[38]
- Chattanooga Free Press[38]
Media
Charles Fleischmann
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- In Fleischmann's July 2014 ad, "Scottie Mayfield," Mayfield shared how Weston Wamp showed up at his house uninvited and secretly recorded a conversation with him. He then highlighted Fleischmann's conservative values.
- Fleischmann criticized Mayfield's immigration policy in his July 2014 ad, "Crisis."
Weston Wamp
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- Wamp's July 2014 ad, "When We Were Young," featured members of the "greatest generation" who argued that voters should not re-elect members of Congress because they had been ineffective leaders.
- Wamp argued that voters should elect him to office so that he could help Americans "leave this country better than we found it" in his July 2014 ad, "Better Than We Found It."
- In, "Not Slowing Down," Wamp argued that Americans needed to send new people to Washington who would work hard and solve problems.
Campaign contributions
Charles Fleischmann
Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Fleischmann's reports.[39]
| Charles Fleischmann (2014) Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[40] | April 15, 2014 | $21,214.65 | $99,942.00 | $(12,376.31) | $108,780.34 | ||||
| July Quarterly[41] | July 15, 2013 | $108,780.34 | $200,210.00 | $(87,602.34) | $221,388.00 | ||||
| October Quarterly[42] | October 15, 2013 | $221,388.00 | $95,880.00 | $(67,045.59) | $250,222.41 | ||||
| Year-End[43] | January 31, 2014 | $250,222 | $196,574 | $(41,162) | $405,634 | ||||
| April Quarterly[44] | April 15, 2014 | $405,634.91 | $305,270.00 | $(70,860.04) | $640,044.87 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $897,876 | $(279,046.28) | ||||||||
Weston Wamp
Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Wamp's reports.[45]
| Weston Wamp (2014) Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[46] | April 15, 2014 | $0 | $403,571.68 | $(29,821.01) | $373,750.67 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $403,571.68 | $(29,821.01) | ||||||||
District history
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2012
The 3rd Congressional District of Tennessee held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Charles J. Fleischmann won re-election in the district.[47]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mary Headrick | 35.5% | 91,094 | |
| Republican | Charles J. Fleischmann Incumbent |
61.5% | 157,830 | |
| Independent | Matthew Deniston | 3.1% | 7,905 | |
| Total Votes | 256,829 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Chuck Fleischmann won election to the United States House. He defeated John Wolfe (D) and Savas T. Kyriakidis (I) in the general election.[48]
| U.S. House, Tennessee District 3 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Chuck Fleischmann |
59.6% | 92,032 | |
| Democratic | John Wolfe | 29.4% | 45,387 | |
| Independent | Savas T. Kyriakidis | 11.1% | 17,077 | |
| Total Votes | 154,496 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2014
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2014
- United States Senate elections in Tennessee, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS FOR AUGUST 1, 2014," accessed August 4, 2014
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed August 4, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Associated Press, "Tennessee - Summary Vote Results," accessed August 7, 2014
- ↑ The Time Free Press, "Chuck Fleischmann outspent Weston Wamp in early July, records show," accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Tennessee - Summary Vote Results"
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Lexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State Website, "Voter Qualification," accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Redistricting Map "Map" accessed July 30, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Tennessee.gov, "Governor, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives Petitions Filed by Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 3, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Tennessee - Summary Vote Results"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 TimesFreePress.com, "Scottie Mayfield: Congressional candidate Weston Wamp secretly recorded me at home," March 28, 2014
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Project Vote Smart, "Representative Fleischmann's Voting Records on National Security," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ The Library of Congress, "Bill Summary & Status - 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) - H.R.624," accessed August 27, 2013
- ↑ Clerk of U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 31: H.R. 2642," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "House clears farm bill," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 New York Times, "Senate passes long-stalled Farm Bill, With clear winners and losers," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 CNN.com, "House passes compromise $1.1 trillion budget for 2014," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 21," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ Roll Call, "House passes $1.1 trillion omnibus," accessed January 15, 2014
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Fleischmann on agriculture," accessed October 15, 2013
- ↑ New York Times, "House Republicans push through Farm Bill, without food stamps," accessed September 17, 2013
- ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ Buzzfeed, "Government shutdown: How we got here," accessed October 1, 2013
- ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ The Library of Congress, "H.AMDT.136," accessed August 28, 2013
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Representative Fleischmann's Voting Records on Immigration," accessed October 15, 2013
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Representative Fleischmann's Voting Records on Issue: Health and Healthcare," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Fleischmann for Congress, "NRA Endorses Chuck Fleischmann, accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Fleischmann for Congress, "National Right to Life Endorses Chuck Fleischmann," accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Nooga.com, "Sen. Tom Coburn endorses Weston Wamp, criticizes Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's attack ads," accessed July 25, 2014
- ↑ Chattanoogan, "Senator Rick Santorum Endorses Weston Wamp For Congress," July 25, 2014
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 WestonWamp.com, "Weston Receives Rare Endorsement of Both Chattanooga Free Press and Chattanooga Times," accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Fleischmann 2014 Summary Reports," accessed July 24, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed July 24, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed July 24, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Fleischmann Year-End," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed April 17, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Wamp 2014 Summary reports," accessed April 24, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed April 24, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Tennessee"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
