2 incumbents pushed to the limit.
What allows such things to happen?
DesJarlais had baggage from over a dozen+ years ago which has not impacted his actual Congressional service. As for TN-3, apparently the Wamp family thinks they’re entitled by heredity to the seat. Fortunately Junior Wamp was beaten again and will give it up.
Should say Wamp Junior SHOULD give it up.
It came to light that DesJarlais encouraged his mistress (a patient he was dating) and his then wife, to have abortions.
Chuck Fleischmann was hurt by a huge rat crossover vote effort. In a closed primary he would have beaten Wamp Jr. easily.
Close primaries are his thing, he only narrowly won in 2010 (for an open seat) and 2012 (as the incumbent) as well.