New leader to represent 8th congressional district will mark historic change

JACKSON, Tenn — West Tennessee voters spoke Thursday night, choosing David Kustoff for the Republican ticket and Rickey Hobson on the Democratic side for the 8th congressional district.

One former representative said it marks a change in the district dating back to Davy Crockett.

“I can go back to 1900 with members from either Gibson, Obion, Weakley or Madison County,” former representative, John Tanner said.

Voting numbers from the state show a third of registered voters in the district live in Shelby County, but nearly half the votes cast in the Republican primary and the top four overall vote getters came from there something similar to the rest of the state.

“As you look around the state, the 8th district was a little unusual in that respect because a lot of the districts represent suburban and rural areas, most of the representatives in those districts are from suburban areas.”

With a new representative taking over the seat, experts said it will be important for the congressman to understand the rural area he’ll represent.

“It’s gonna be different,” Morris said. “You’re not gonna have that sort of natural affinity for the farming and for small towns. He’s gonna have to work to make those connections.”

“If he will dedicate himself to balance of representing not only urban and suburban areas of Shelby County, but also familiarize himself with some of the issues that we experience here in rural west, I see no reason why he can’t serve all of his district,” Tanner said.

Election day for all the primaries that were decided Thursday night is November 8th.