State Sen. Douglas Henry will keep the seat he’s had since the early 1970s, besting his Republican challenger, physician Steve Dickerson, for the Senate's District 21 seat.
Dickerson conceded in a phone call to Henry Tuesday night as returns showed the incumbent leading by 10 percent of the vote with little more than half of precincts reporting.
“The state of Tennessee is composed of many kinds of people. A good legislator must recognize that and apply himself accordingly,” Henry said. “Dr. Dickerson is a fine gentleman and is to be congratulated for taking a hand in public affairs.”
Henry led the unofficial early voting totals 12,351 to Dickerson’s 10,778.
Dickerson, an anaesthesiologist, resigned from his post on the state Board of Medical Laboratories — where he was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen — to run for the Senate seat.
Henry, 84, narrowly edged his Democratic primary challenger, attorney Jeff Yarbro, following a recount fiasco that took days to unravel.
The Democrat served last year as vice chair of the Finance, Ways and Means Committee, as well as on the Rules Committee, Joint Fiscal Review Committee, and the General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee.