UPDATE: Barnes files to challenge his 19-vote August primary loss

State Senate candidate Tim Barnes late Monday filed a challenge to his 19-vote loss in the August Democratic Primary election against incumbent Sen. Rosalind Kurita.

Barnes said he collected between 10 and 15 affidavits from voters in Clarksville’s District 22, who said poll workers incorrectly said Barnes’ name was on the Republican ballot.

“I think we have a very strong case,” said Barnes. “And more importantly we have the opportunity for the party to look into it and to make sure we’ve got a fair election.”

Kurita has been under fire from her own party since last year, when she voted for Republican Ron Ramsey for Lieutenant Governor. Ramsey’s election to the leader of the Senate gave Republicans control over committee assignments, which can impact how certain pieces of legislation fare in the General Assembly.

Ramsey later nominated Kurita to the post of speaker pro-tempore, the second-in-command, and campaigned on her behalf.

When reached by phone this morning, Kurita called Barnes' affidavits "allegations." She said her election has been certified.

"That means that the state has had the folks who are in charge of the election in each and every county — we have three counties - have certified, have checked, have matched, have done everything that we always do in every election," Kurita said.

She added that it is time to move on.

"Mr. Barnes needs to get over it. This is enough," she said. "My heart goes out to him. It's hard to lose an election, but we need to have unity."

State democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle, former Governor Ned McWherter and House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh gave money to Barnes’ campaign.

Yesterday was the last day for any candidate to officially challenge an election. In primaries, state parties have control over whether to seat one of the two candidates or have a special election.

There is no Republican challenger in this district for the November election.

The Executive Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party has to meet to deliberate over the issue, but members are in Denver, this week for the Democratic National Convention.

“We’ll spend the next few days reviewing the contest, establishing the procedures for such contest and setting the dates for the Tennessee Executive Committee meeting,” said Wade Munday, party spokesman, from Denver on Monday.

That meeting will happen after party leaders return to Tennessee.