The success of both of our nominees for state-wide office in Georgia, CEO Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Senator Sam Nunn, and State Senator Jason Carter, grandson of former President and Governor Jimmy Carter, show how much a name means in politics. Despite the red lean of their state, both of these candidates have proven themselves to be highly competent and are making real races out of each of the offices that they're gunning for. While we obviously won't know the results of their respective elections until November, polling and fundraising indicate candidacies that have good shots at victory.
In another Southern State, Tennessee, former Governor Phil Bredesen has been touted as a potential Senate candidate for us for the past two election cycles, due to his centrism and the fact that he was the last Democrat to be elected state-wide in the volunteer state. The next Senate election is in 2018, and while I would love for him to put his hat in the ring, he'd be almost 77 on election day, so it's unlikely he'd go for it.
But, after a little research, I found his son, executive and brewer Ben Bredesen of Nashville.
Now, of course, brewer profession wise isn't on the same plane as State Senator or non-profit CEO, but in a rural state like Tennessee, working as a small businessman in nothing other than the field of beer may be an asset in an election. Another concern is that the younger Bredesen may not want to go into politics and would prefer to focus on brewing. But, if he does run, I believe that he could be a good candidate for either Governor or Senator in 2018, given he runs a competent campaign.
Another idea is for him to primary out sitting Congressman Jim Cooper (D) from the 5th District, which contains the city of Nashville. Cooper is known as being one of the most conservative members of the Democratic caucus. is just one example of his atrocious record:
Now, I am not a party purist, and if he was in a red or swing district, I wouldn't be demanding a challenge to him. However, Cooper sits in a district the President won by more than 14 points in his reelection campaign. Cooper's record would also be more tolerable if he was gearing up for a state-wide run, but despite returning to Congress 12 years ago, he hasn't once ran for higher office in that time, and it looks unlikely for him to do so anytime soon. Despite Governor Bredesen governing as a centrist to fit with the nature of his state, I suspect that privately the family are more progressive than how they portray themselves publically, and I think Ben Bredesen would be an upgrade to the disappointing incumbent.
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