State Politicians Converge On Rural Special Election

Tennessee’s governor, a U.S. Senator, leaders from both parties, and legislators from across the state are all eyeing one elected office. And it’s not necessarily the one you’d guess.

Tomorrow voters in the Shelbyville area will elect a representative to finish out a term in the state house. The result could foreshadow next fall’s election.

Republican Pat Marsh, who owns a trucking company, is running against Democrat Ty Cobb, a UPS driver. Chris Brown of the state Constitutional Party is also on the ballot as an independent.

Republicans are trying to cement control of the state house. Democrats lost almost every open seat in the last election, and are looking to stop the bleeding.

Vanderbilt political-science professor Christian Grose says that means a lot more is at stake than a single vote in the state house.

“Whoever wins this special election is going to put down a marker for who has the advantage going into 2010.”

Grose says that’s key, because whatever party wins out next fall will reshape Tennessee’s voting districts after the 2010 census. The outcome will change the makeup of both the legislature and Congressional races.

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Some 37 thousand people are eligible to vote in District 62, which includes Bedford County, and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford.