Free Republic

Final unofficial returns from the state Division of Elections this morning indicate that seven incumbent Republicans and five incumbent Democrats lost bids for re-election in Thursday's primaries. Latest additions to the incumbent loser list are Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, defeated by insurance agent Ron Travis 4.357 votes to 4,252 , according to the final unofficial returns; and Rep. Mary Pruitt, D-Nashville, defeated by Harold Love Jr. by about 40 votes. Other defeated incumbent Republican legislators were House Republican Caucus Chairman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville, House Education Committee Chairman Richard Montgomery of Sevierville; and Reps. Dale Ford of Jonesborough, Julia...

LENOIR CITY - A candidate for state representative photographed partially unclothed on a website said today the photo has been removed. Julia Hurley, 28, of Lenoir City, a Republican candidate for the 32nd Legislative District in the Aug. 5 primary, today refused to describe the photo. She also said she doesn't know who removed the photo from the website, ModelMayhem.com. "It's not my website," she said. A media report describes Hurley's pose in the photograph as "pantless" while wearing high-heel boots. Hurley disputes that description but declined to give her own depiction of it. Hurley today said the photo was...