NASHVILLE, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- After two unsuccessful presidential campaigns, former Gov. Lamar Alexander took the first step toward a political comeback, defeating Rep. Ed Bryant to win the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Tennessee.
Fifteen years after he stepped down after two terms as the state's governor, Alexander, a moderate, led a field of seven candidates to win the GOP senatorial nomination. He had a 53-to-43 percent margin over Bryant, with most of the state's precincts reporting late Thursday.
Bryant, a conservative who vacated his 7th Congressional District seat to run for the Senate, was the House manager during impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and conducted the deposition of former intern Monica Lewinsky.
Democrat Bob Clement, a seven-term congressman, easily won his party's nomination to the U.S. Senate with 82 percent of the votes cast, based on returns from 89 percent of the state's precincts.
He will face Alexander, a former U.S. secretary of education, in the November general election to fill the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Fred Thompson, who announced his retirement in March.
Former Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen and U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary will face each other in November, as they seek to replace Republican Gov. Don Sundquist, who is barred by law from seeking a third tem.
With about 79 percent of the votes, Bredesen defeated former state Education Commissioner Charles Smith and Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols to win the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
In the Republican gubernatorial race, Hilleary carried 64 percent of the ballots to defeat former state House minority leader Jim Henry, who had 30 percent, and three other candidates.
Tennessee voters also chose candidates for three of the state's nine congressional districts, as well as all of the seats in the state House, 17 of 33 state Senate seats, and numerous local offices.
