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Weston Wamp To Challenge Fleischmann Again

votesmart.org

The 2012 Republican primary for Tennessee's 3rd district seat provided one of the more intriguing races of the year.  After wrapping up his freshman term in Congress, Chuck Fleischmann faced a challenge from a host of GOP contenders, including Mayfield Dairy President Scottie Mayfield and Weston Wamp, whose father Zach Wamp held the seat from 1994-2010.   

Fleischmann won the heated primary and went on to easily beat Democrat Mary Headrick in the general election.  

Wamp now says he'd like a rematch.  The 26 year-old  entrepreneur launched his 2014 bid today in Chattanooga, calling Fleischmann a "nice guy", but one who's "not very effective".  

Fleischmann's camp responded by saying they weren't surprised by the announcement.  "Of course Weston Wamp is running," said Fleischmann spokesman Jordan Powell.  "He never stopped running after the 2012 election."

The relationship between Fleischmann and Wamp remained strained after the election, complicated by the fact that Wamp refused to endorse Fleischmann in the general election.

Missing from the rematch is Mayfield, who told the Chattanooga Times Free-Press he no longer has the stomach for politics.  "The old saying of the ends justify the means," he said in a June 2013 article, "especially during the campaign, makes it hard for me to want to participate."   

Wamp and Fleischmann will face off in the GOP primary on August 7.