Lenda Sherrell and Scott DesJarlais
Democrat Linda Sherrell greets supporters as she begins to narrow the lead held by incumbent Republican Scott DesJarlais in the battle for the U.S. House, District 4 seat.Updated
Updated throughout the night to reflect additional information and comments from DesJarlais and Sherrell.
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Congressman Scott DesJarlais made his victory speech in South Pittsburg, Tenn., less than two hours after the polls closed in Tennessee.
"We really appreciate this big win. It's nice to have a great margin of victory," DesJarlais said. "I think it sends a great message that people are rejecting this current administration's policy and they're ready to see some real change and they've been waiting for it."
DesJarlais said he's "restless" to get back to Congress and to resume efforts his office has mounted over the past four years.
Early returns show DesJarlais winning in the race against Democratic challenger Lenda Sherrell with about 60 percent of the vote.
Democrat Lenda Sherrell offered her congratulations to Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais on his victory in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District race.
"The causes we fought for must live on," Sherrell told a group of about 40-50 supporters this evening at the Mayday Brewery in Murfreesboro . "Defeat has not weakened my resolve."
An aide said Sherrell earlier contacted the DesJarlais campaign and offered her congratulations to the South Pittsburg incumbent.
DesJarlais won the right to defend his 4th District seat after a victory of just 38 votes in the August primary against state Sen. Jim Tracy.
DesJarlais, a Jasper physician who now opposes abortion rights, won despite a series of personal scandals that included affairs with patients, urging a mistress to seek an abortion and once holding a gun in his mouth for hours outside his ex-wife's room.
Sherrell is an accountant from Monteagle who stressed during the campaign that she is not a "career politician."
DesJarlais announced earlier this year that he was diagnosed with cancer.
The South Pittsburg physician issued a statement thanking voters for "once again putting their faith in my ability to serve them. I promise I will never take that trust for granted. It is no secret that Washington is broken. For too long career politicians have put politics before people and the pursuit of power before principle."
Sherrell, meanwhile, appeared taken by surprise at the AP's call.
"I have not heard that," Sherrell told reporters at the time. "We still have the night to go."
Previous story:
With polls in the 4th Congressional District now closed, supporters of Democrat Lenda Sherrell gathered at the Mayday Brewery in Murfreesboro. Sherrell isn't here yet but is supposed to be here about 8:15 p.m., according to her spokeswoman, Beryl Chong.
As of 8:39 p.m., her opponent, Scott DesJarlais, was ahead by about 10,000 votes, or a margin of 61 percent to 33 percent.
By 9:06, DesJarlais had padded his lead to 18,263 votes, though many precincts have yet to report.
See more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.