Controversial State Senator Stacey Campfield has been defeated in the 7th District primary by Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs in a race that was never close. Briggs collected 67% of the vote, Campfield received 28% and Mike Alford registered 6% of the vote.
Fellow Republican Steve Hall was also unseated in his 18th District State House race by Martin Daniel. Daniel will go unchallenged in the general election after collecting 15% of the vote in Thursday's primary.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander has survived a primary challenge from conservative Joe Carr. In the 3rd US House District, Chuck Fleischmann narrowly escaped a challenge from fellow Republican Weston Wamp, the son of Zach Wamp, who once held the seat.
It could be days before the winner can be declared in the 4th US House District race. At last count, beleaguered incumbent Scott Desjarlais held a 35-vote lead over challenger Jim Tracy.
Supreme Court Justices Gary Wade, Cornelia Clark and Sharon Lee have all been retained, despite a fevered challenge by conservative groups to unseat them.