Abortion-loving Republican wins GOP primary

Scott DesJarlais

Scott DesJarlais

With the vote finally certified in Tennessee's Aug. 7 primary, state Sen. Jim Tracy has now conceded to Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who prevailed by a miniscule 38-vote margin. DesJarlais, of course, is the Republican physician-turned-congressman who had multiple affairs with patients and coworkers, prescribed pain pills for them, and pushed one lover to get an abortion. Oh, and he also encouraged his wife to have two abortions herself. Nothing says "family values" quite like that!

For most of the cycle, it looked like Tracy was the overwhelming favorite to terminate DesJarlais' political career, but somehow DesJarlais managed to eke out just enough forgiveness from Republican primary voters to carry himself to another full term. DesJarlais faces Democrat Lenda Sherrell in November, but in this overwhelmingly red district, he's a lock to win despite the serious stains on his record—not that we'll forget his transgressions any time soon.