Candidates

Results

The incumbent, Marsha Blackburn (R), retained her seat, defeating the Democratic challenger, Credo Amouzouvik. Blackburn raised more than 1.6 million dollars for her campaign; Amouzouvik didn’t report any funds raised. Blackburn has held the seat since 2002.

Winner:

Marsha Blackburn (Republican)

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. She had previously served as a Tennessee State Senator since 1998. Blackburn currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she is vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. She also serves on the Health and Communications Subcommittee and Technology Subcommittee.

Website: blackburn.house.gov

Social Media

Facebook: marshablackburn

Twitter: @MarshaBlackburn. 723 tweets, 5,836 followers

Finances

Top PAC donors:

Telecoms: $39,000
Health Care: $36,500
Industries: $29,000

Top PAC Donors All PAC Donors PDF

Challengers:

Credo Amouzouvik (Democrat)

A naturalized U.S. citizen and native of Togo, Credo Amouzouvik has served in the U.S. Army and is a combat-wounded Iraq war veteran. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and management and is currently pursuing a second degree in political sciences from Austin Peay State University. Amouzouvik volunteers through the Homeffa Foundation and has provided assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti and flood victims in Clarksville, Tenn.

Website: credoforcongress.com

Social Media

Facebook: CredoForCongress

Twitter: @Credo4Congress. 708 tweets, 325 followers

Finances: None reported

Jack Todd Arnold (Independent)

Jack Arnold served in the U.S. Armed Forces from 2003 until 2009 and is a veteran of the Iraq war. He recently graduated with a degree in law from Vanderbilt University. Arnold’s platform focuses on supporting the second amendment’s right to bear arms, opposing the Stop Online Piracy Act, and creating jobs and increasing revenues.

Website: www.jackarnoldfortennessee.org

Social Media

Facebook: Jack-Arnold

Twitter: @jacktoddarnold1,850 tweets, 248 followers

Finances

Howard Switzer (Green Party)

Howard Switzer is an architect specializing in historical restoration and innovative ecological building methods. He was co-chair of The Green Party of Tennessee from 2002-2003 and has been a member of the Green Party’s National Committee for 10 years. He was the Green Party candidate for governor of Tennessee in 2006 and 2010.

Website: howardswitzer.com/2012

Social Media

Facebook: none

Twitter: none

Finances: None reported

William Ryan Akin (Independent)

William Ryan Akin is listed on Tea Party Cheer, a website that claims to report on the Tea Party movement without endorsing any candidates. No other information is available.

Website: teapartycheer.com/bios/the-south/tennessee/ryan-akin-tn-bio

Social Media

Facebook: none

Twitter: none

Finances: None reported

* Positions on issues are based on statements from the candidates’ websites, social media and/or voting records. If the candidate did not express a clear and consistent opinion on an issue, he or she is listed as taking no position.

The charts are not intended to provide an in-depth analysis of a candidate’s platform. Visit the candidates’ websites or social media sites, if available, for more information on their positions on these issues.

• The Affordable Care Act, popularly called Obamacare, is a set of laws that prevents people from being excluded from health insurance coverage but requires everyone to purchase health insurance. It was enacted on March 23, 2010, with various provisions being phased in at different times over the next several years.
• The Arizona immigration law is legislation passed in Arizona that requires police officers, while enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. The two key issues are whether it is constitutional to require citizens to prove their citizenship to law enforcement officers, and whether it is constitutional for a state to have its own immigration policy separate from the federal government.
• The Stop the War on Coal Act was passed by the House on Sept. 20, 2012, and would significantly deregulate the coal industry from environmental statutes. It would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other sources, and prevent rules on the storage and disposal of coal ash and limit Clean Water Act rules. It would also prevent any new rules regulating mountaintop removal coal mining or toxic air emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. Proponents argue that new regulations will cause energy prices to rise.
• The Norquist no new taxes pledge: Grover Norquist is the founder and president of an anti-tax advocacy group called Americans for Tax Reform, which petitions members of congress to sign a pledge to never raise taxes under any circumstances.