State Sen. Jim Tracy declares victory prematurely. Credit: Dave Smith for WPLN

More than three weeks after voting ended, state Sen. Jim Tracy has conceded in the 4^th Congressional District Republican Primary. Rep. Scott DesJarlais came out on top by just 38 votes.

“We have consulted with knowledgeable people, and I have consulted with my family and, most importantly I have prayed for guidance,” Tracy said in a letter release Monday morning. “In the end, the decision of whether or not to file a contest was mine and mine alone.”

Tracy compliments the Tennessee Division of Elections for being “fair and objective.” He says he’s learned of people who were not on the rolls who voted anyway or a voter who was given the wrong ballot. But he says he will not contest the outcome, leaving the public with “additional weeks of litigation, with uncertainty as to who the nominee will be.”

Tracy, who declared victory early on election night, has called DesJarlais to formally concede.

“I want to thank the people of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District for once again putting their faith in my ability to serve them,” DesJarlais said in a statement. “I promise I will never take that trust for granted. I am glad we can now come together as Republicans and start focusing on the general election in November.”

DesJarlais now faces Democrat Lenda Sherrell, a retired accountant from Monteagle.