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Scandal prone incumbents lose seats in Tennessee House

capitol.tn.gov

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (AP/WMOT)  --  Two scandal plagued Republican State Representatives have lost their seats to primary challengers.

Longtime state Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville lost his West Tennessee seat to carnival operator Mark Lovell by 37 percentage points.

Todd was twice filmed removing opponents' campaign signs during the campaign. A retired Memphis police officer, Todd was convicted in 2011 for drunken driving with a loaded handgun in his car.

Franklin Rep. Jeremy Durham has also lost his House seat. Republican primary challenger Sam Whitson defeated the scandal dogged Durham by a two-thirds margin, or more than 3,000 votes.

A scathing report delivered to House leadership in early July by Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slattery concluded Durham had sexually harassed at least 22 women during his time on Capital Hill.

Whitson, a retired Army Col and political newcomer, will face Democrat Holly McCall this fall.