Former newscaster Dan Howell won in Bradley County, but Eric Watson emerged the overall winner in unofficial returns in the Republican primary for the House District 22 seat vacated by Chris Newton.
Mr. Watson, who works with the court security and fugitive division of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office and has been active with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, gained 1,085 votes after ballots were also tallied in Meigs and Polk counties.
Mr. Howell, the former anchor on Fox61, finished with 876 votes.
Other GOP totals in voting Tuesday were Elizabeth Kalabus 120, Alexander Moseley 21 and Fred Wilcoxon 276.
Sally Love was the only Democratic candidate. She got 565 votes.
Ms. Love, a Cleveland attorney, was appointed by the Polk County Commission after Republican Newton resigned following a guilty plea in the Operation Tennessee Waltz FBI sting.
The general election will be in January.
Mr. Watson said at the time of his announcement, "This is the seat currently held by embattled Rep. Chris Newton. Following the FBI investigation, Tennessee Waltz, this office wears a black eye. I want to bring integrity back to the office."
Eric Watson
Bradley Co. 578
Meigs Co. 297
Polk Co. 210
Total 1,085
Dan Howell
Bradley Co. 721
Meigs Co. 90
Polk Co. 65
Total 876
Elizabeth Kalabus
Bradley Co. 95
Meigs Co. 13
Polk Co. 125
Total 120
Fred Wilcoxon
Bradley Co. 79
Meigs Co. 28
Polk Co. 169
Total 276
Alexander Moseley
Bradley Co. 19
Meigs Co. 2
Polk Co. 0
Total 21
Sally Love (D)
Bradley Co. 132
Meigs Co. 155
Polk Co. 278
Total 565