Knoxville is OK (well, at least better than Nashville and Memphis proper), although has a RINO Mayor who wants to be Governor. Oak Ridge, I believe, is Dem-leaning (probably due to the gov’t employees). East of Knoxville, you’re close to the mountain recreation and about a day’s drive from the coast or DC.
I’m not certain about the Rep in Oak Ridge. But I do know that Randy McNally-R is senator. Sorta -R sorta not. Had the tax protest not gone down he would have voted for it to fund Tenn SCare.