AC Kleinheider has the press release:
This past Saturday, Donn Janes, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 8th District spoke in Paris, TN, to an estimated 300 Tea Party activists from the West Tennessee area.
"As of today, I am no longer going to run for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican," Janes announced. "We need to change the way we elect our representatives..."
When asked about what led to this decision, Mr. Janes stated that the National Republican Party continues to aggressively support candidates who lack depth on issues and conservative values, but instead focus on candidates who are able to self fund or raise large sums of money.
The 8th District is heating up after veteran Congressman John Tanner announced his retirement. Almost immediately, Democratic State Senator (and former Senate caucus leader) Roy Herron ended his campaign for governor and started a bid for Congress.
My family's lived in Tennessee since 1819. This has always been my home, and it always will be. I've worked hard for my neighbors and fellow Tennesseans in the 11 counties I have represented in the General Assembly. In 23 years, I've missed only one day of a legislative session - the day our youngest son was being born. I have held more than a 1,000 listening meetings with those I represent, and believe I understand their needs and can represent their values.
In Nashville, I've helped balance 23 state budgets, and I've done so while voting against raising the sales tax and voting against an income tax. I know how to cast tough votes, and make the cuts necessary to balance our budgets. I know that we cannot and should not pile debt on our children and grandchildren. To do otherwise would risk their future or our country's future.
Our nation is facing many challenges in this time of global economic upheaval, war, and domestic uncertainty. These challenges affect every family in the 8th District every day. I have seen the struggles of families and small businesses. In Congress, I will commit myself fully to creating jobs and economic opportunity, making health care accessible and affordable, making our nation energy independent while protecting our environment, and lifting the voices of the people of the 8th District to the floor of Congress.
Herron brings a surprising blend of Christian values progressive politics. An ordained Methodist pastor and lawyer, Herron sees government as playing a positive role in promoting peace and justice. And while his positions on a few issues will raise red flags for Kossacks (namely, pro-gun, weak on support of union labor, somewhat hawkish on national security, and questionable on abortion rights), Herron would be much better than the alternative.
The announcement from Janes comes at a time when the GOP is aligning behind Steven Fincher, an ultraconservative farmer who has (as his Tea Party opponent Janes notes) taken thousands of dollars in farm subsidies and talks out of both sides of his mouth on fiscal conservatism.
It's entirely possible that Janes will do in TN-8 what Doug Hoffman did in NY-23 - split the GOP base and make it easier for a moderate Democrat to win a conservative district.
Stay tuned.