Democrat Russell To Face Roe For 1st District Seat

Kingsport’s Rob Russell won the Democratic primary Thursday and will face the Republican nominee in November for Tennessee’s 1st District U.S. House seat.

Russell defeated Michael Donihe, 48, the only other Democrat vying for the spot on November’s ballot, according to unofficial totals late Thursday. 

It will be tough going for the 38-year-old, since a Democrat hasn’t held the congressional seat since 1881.

“I was pretty sure I was going to win the nomination,” Russell said from his home late Thursday. “I don’t have a lot of money, so I’ve been counting on members of the Democratic Party in this area to help out.”

Russell said he wants to represent the interests of Tennessee families by providing honest and effective leadership and being the voice for the region in Washington, D.C.

“I think people are turned off by all the mudslinging, and yes, I’m referring to the Phil Roe-David Davis Republican race,” he said. Since 1997, Russell has served as Writing and Communication Center director at East Tennessee State University’s Johnson City campus. Among his many duties, he teaches several courses, including “Critical Thinking and Argumentation.”

Meanwhile, Russell plans to strengthen his Rob Russell for Congress campaign.

“I’ll be attending some Democratic Party events coming up in Cocke and Unicoi counties,” he said. “And I’m hoping that Democrats that are thinking of voting Republican and undecided independents will think it over and perhaps vote for me.”

Russell said he strongly believes Congress can help the U.S. economy recover from the present downturn by stopping the distribution of wealth from the middle-class to the “super rich.”

He has not accepted any money from political action committees or special interests and is getting financial support mainly from rural organizations in Greene County.

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