Corker Gets First Democratic Challenger for 2018

By Eric Garcia

Posted April 17, 2017 at 10:13am

Nashville attorney and Iraq war veteran James Mackler is the first Democrat to announce a challenge to Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker for 2018.

Mackler told the Tennessean that he is “running to restore respect, honesty, and most importantly, integrity in Washington.”

Mackler was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army and served a tour of duty in Iraq. He said he put aside his legal work and enlisted after 9/11.

Mackler would likely be an underdog as the last time Democrats were competitive was in Corker’s first Senate race in 2006, when he beat former Rep. Harold Ford Jr.

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