Gresham defeats Camp as GOP bolsters its control of Tenn. legislature

By Richard Locker, Memphis Commercial Appeal
November 4, 2008

NASHVILLE — Republican Dolores Gresham of Somerville defeated Democrat Randy Camp in the open state Senate District 26 seat east of Memphis Tuesday as the GOP bolstered its control of the state Senate.

But the big news may have been down the hall in the House, where Republicans rode a victory wave in rural districts to apparently win a majority in the House of Representatives for the first time since Reconstruction. Republicans won a net pickup of four House seats and if a fifth Republican candidate’s lead in one Middle Tennessee district holds, the GOP will have gained a 50-49 edge in a chamber Democrats had controlled 53-46 before Tuesday’s balloting.

The results would have historic ramifications. House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower said late Tuesday he expects all three Democratic state constitutional officers — Secretary of State Riley Darnell, State Treasurer Dale Sims and State Comptroller John Morgan — to be replaced.

Those positions are elected by the state legislature shortly after it convenes in January. GOP control of both chambers would also make the next two years more difficult for Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen, already facing a potential budget gap of $600 million before the fiscal year ends next June 30.

Gresham’s win over Camp was one of three seats the GOP picked up in the Senate. Gresham replaces Sen. John Wilder, a Democrat who had held the seat since 1966.

With all precincts reporting, Gresham had 53.7 percent of the vote to 46.3 percent for Camp.

Camp conceded defeat in a call to Gresham at 9 p.m. Gresham and her husband own a cattle farm just east of Somerville, and she has been a state representative since 2002.

“I feel great, but I think most of all, I feel grateful to the people of this district who have worked so hard on this campaign and the people who have put their trust in me to represent them in the Senate,” Gresham said.

In the House, Republicans won four seats that had been held by Democrats and were leading in a fifth, in Murfreesboro. In three of those five seats, the Democratic incumbents did not run again and in the other two, Republican challengers defeated the incumbent Democrats. Democrats defeated one Republican incumbent, Rep. Tom DuBois, in Columbia.

In the Senate, Republican Mike Faulk defeated Republican-turned-independent Mike Williams by 247 votes, and Ken Yager defeated Democrat Becky Ruppe.

Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris said the GOP gains “confirm that folks like our brand of leadership. ... With a working majority of this size, we’ll be able to work harder and even more effectively.”