State Republicans seize control of Senate
By Lucas L. Johnson IIThe Associated Press
Originally published: November 04. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: November 05. 2008 12:18AM
NASHVILLE — Republicans took control of the state Senate on Tuesday by winning at least two of three contentious races needed to tip the balance of power in their favor.
Unofficial results showed the Republicans picking up seats in Districts 12 in East Tennessee and District 26 in southwest Tennessee.
The election began with Republicans and Democrats each holding 16 seats. The 33rd belonged to an independent up for re-election this year. Both parties were hoping to gain at least one seat to claim a majority.
With all precincts reporting in District 12, Republican Ken Yager defeated Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe. In District 26, Republican state Rep. Dolores Gresham defeated Democrat Randy Camp.
In District 4 in East Tennessee, Republican attorney Mike Faulk was leading independent incumbent Mike Williams by more than 200 votes, but Williams had not conceded.
Meanwhile, over in the House, Republicans were also making gains and appeared close to getting a majority.
Two of the fiercest battles in the Senate were for open seats: Senate District 26 in West Tennessee, where former longtime Democratic Senate Speaker John Wilder of Mason is retiring, and District 12 on the Cumberland Plateau, where Sen. Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg, didn’t seek re-election.
In District 26, with all precincts reporting, Gresham had 37,043 votes, or 54 percent, to Democrat Randy Camp’s 31,919 votes, or 46 percent.
In District 12, northwest of Knoxville, Yager had 32,493 votes, or 51 percent, while Ruppe had 27,974 votes, or 44 percent.
In northeastern Tennessee’s Senate District 4, Faulk had 29,417 votes, or 50 percent, to Williams’ 29,171, 49.7 percent. No Democrat was on the ballot.
GOP gains major victory for Ramsey
The Republican gains were a major victory for Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, putting in position to be re-elected to the top Senate post when the General Assembly convenes in January.
Ramsey backed Faulk, hoping to oust Williams, who left the GOP last year to become an independent and has sometimes sided with Democrats on key votes.
“I’m excited,” Ramsey said. “We had good candidates, we had the right message, we raised the money that was needed in a year that wasn’t exactly good nationwide.”
Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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