The Huffington Post has a piece out today about another Democratic candidate we should be paying attention to:
James Mackler, an Iraq War veteran and lawyer in Nashville, announced Sunday that he is running for Senate, becoming the first Democrat to try to take the seat of Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) in 2018.
“As a soldier, I know the strength of teamwork, cooperation and the benefits of diversity to accomplish a mission,” Mackler told The Huffington Post. “I know that true leadership really comes from a sense of duty, and without some change in this country, I really worry about the future of my family and those of every Tennessean. My wife and I want to raise our daughters in a nation that celebrates the best of America, not in a country that’s as divided as we are now.”
Tennessee handily went to Donald Trump in the 2016 election, and just two of its 11 members of Congress are Democrats. If Mackler gets through the primary, he’ll no doubt face an uphill battle to win a Senate seat.
Still, state and local Democrats said Tuesday that they’re excited about him, with some saying he may be the strongest Democratic statewide candidate they’ve had since Harold Ford Jr., who served in the House before losing to Corker in a close 2006 Senate race.
“I think we’re getting a good candidate that can excite people here,” said Gary Bynum, chair of the Democratic Party in Davidson County, which encompasses Nashville.
“You have to have the right candidates at the right time, and that’s what James is,” added Holly McCall, chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party in suburban Nashville.
Corker hasn’t announced yet is he will seek re-election. The last time he faced a tight election was in 2006 against then Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D. TN) due to voters disapproval with the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq War. Tennessee is still a very red state but then again, Corker hasn’t been the biggest Trump loyalist. He’s one of the Republicans who wants an investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia. So who knows how badly Trump could be on Republicans like Corker. What we’re seeing from these past two special elections are early signs that Republicans everywhere aren’t safe. Hopefully, the grassroots campaign will propel Mackler’s campaign and national Democrats will get involved. But let's not wait until then. Stay tuned.