We haven’t sent a ‘Rat to Congress since the Civil War. I voted for Davis. There was no reason at all to vote him out.
1878 was the last time one was elected to the 1st, and that was the famous future Governor and Senator Robert Love Taylor (both his father and brother served from the 1st, albeit as a Whig/Unionist and Republican, respectively). Only Knoxville’s 2nd has gone longer than the 1st, not having elected a Democrat since 1853.
You’re right that there was absolutely no reason to dump Davis. The only complaints I heard were from whiny liberals that he was “too tough” on the issues. Cry me a river. That’s what we WANT ! Dr. Roe is just going to be another one of those East TN RINOs we have that infest the legislative caucus in Nashville that enjoy voting bi-annually for that dictator a$$hole Boss Hogg Naifeh, except rather than just being a single member of the state House, he’ll be doing that crap in Washington.
I’m still wondering if it’s possible for Davis to still mount an independent challenge. With Roe and the regular Democrat, the liberal split could be enough to get him a 2nd term. From what I read last night, Davis refused to concede.