KNOXVILLE, Tenn — Two Republicans vied to represent the 18th District in the Tennessee State House, which covers West Knoxville, but Eddie Mannis pulled out an apparent victory by a very narrow margin.
With 3,466 votes, it looks like Eddie Mannis has defeated Gina Oster, who got 3,367 votes. Only 99 votes separated them in the unofficial results. There were only 33 provisional ballots cast in that race, so they would not change the outcome once counted.
Republican lawmaker Martin Daniel is retiring.
Mannis, a businessman, ran for Knoxville mayor last year and lost to Indya Kincannon. Oster is on the Board of Equalization and the Knox County Sheriff's Merit System Council.
Second quarter spending reports filed with the state in early July show Mannis spent $14,180 while Oster spent about $4,230.
The latest, pre-primary reports filed in late July show Mannis spent $36,200 during the month while Oster spent $13,161.
Virginia Couch is the lone Democrat in the primary. She will go on to face Mannis in November.