Jackson businessman and gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter will make a stop in Chattanooga as he marks the official beginning of his gubernatorial campaign with a tour of the state of Tennessee.
His state fly-around comes as another Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, Kim McMillan, said she was suspending her campaign.
Ms. McMillan, the former House majority leader, said she will run for mayor of Clarksville instead.
Democrats started out with seven contenders and Mr. McWherter is the only candidate left standing.
Mr. McWherter plans a press conference on Monday at 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Center for Business, Industry & Health at the Tennessee Technology Center at Chattanooga State.
The Democratic candidate is the son of former Governor Ned McWherter.
Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney said, "Democrats are going to struggle even further in this race now that they've lost their most articulate candidate.
"The spotlight is now going to be on Mike McWherter and I'm confident that voters have already begun to see why he is not the right candidate for this job. Mr. McWherter is facing an extremely difficult race against an exceptionally strong GOP field of candidates - one of whom will be elected the next governor of Tennessee."