| Scott DesJarlais | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 4th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Lincoln Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 21, 1964 Sturgis, South Dakota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Amy DesJarlais |
| Residence | Jasper, Tennessee |
| Alma mater | University of South Dakota |
| Profession | Doctor |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Website | Official website |
Scott Eugene DesJarlais[1] (born February 21, 1964)[2] (last name pronounced Day-Jar-Lay) is the U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 4th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Contents |
Scott DesJarlais is the son of Joe DesJarlais, a barber, and Sylvia, a registered nurse for over 44 years at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital in South Dakota. He has undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of South Dakota and earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He was originally from Sturgis, South Dakota, and moved to East Tennessee in 1993.[3] Today, DesJarlais practices medicine at Grand View Medical Center in Jasper, Tennessee.[4]
In 2009, DesJarlais filed papers to challenge Democratic incumbent Lincoln Davis,[5] as well as Independents Paul H. Curtis, James Gray, Richard S. Johnson, and Gerald York.[6]
In April 2009, the Southern Political Report noted that DesJarlais has "neither held nor sought public office before, which means that until now he has had no experience campaigning and is not widely known in the district."[7]
A Republican-sponsored poll of 4th Congressional District voters showed Davis led most likely challengers (DesJarlais or another candidate Jack Bailey) by eleven points, 44 to 33 percent.[8] CQ Politics rated this race as Leans Democratic.[9] Real Clear Politics rates the race as "Leans Democratic".[10] Larry Sabato rates the race "Lean Democratic". Charlie Cook rates the race "Leans Democratic". Stuart Rothenberg rates the race "Likely Democratic". Nate Silver of the New York Times owned blog FiveThirtyEight.com had predicted that there is a 58% chance that DesJarlais would defeat Davis.[11]
In the November 2 election, DesJarlais routed Davis, 57% to 38%--the second-largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle. DesJarlais is also the first challenger to oust an incumbent since the 4th District was created in 1982. The 4th stretches across five television markets, and campaign budgets often rival those of statewide races.
DesJarlais and his second wife, Amy, have three children: Tyler, Ryan, and Maggie. They live in Jasper, a suburb of Chattanooga. They are active members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, Tennessee.
DesJarlais divorced his first wife, Susan, in 2001. They had one child.[12] During their divorce proceedings, Susan DesJarlais alleged that her ex-husband engaged in "violent and threatening behavior"[13]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lincoln Davis |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 4th congressional district January 3, 2011 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Jeff Denham R-California |
United States Representatives by seniority 359th |
Succeeded by Bob Dold R-Illinois |
|
|||||||||||
| 112th | Senate: L. Alexander | B. Corker | House: J. Duncan, Jr. | J. Cooper | M. Blackburn | S. Cohen | P. Roe | D. Black | S. DesJarlais | S. Fincher | C. Fleischmann |