Daniel wins 18th District House seat

Two weeks after a now infamous shoving incident, incumbent state Rep. Martin Daniel of Knoxville defeated three GOP challengers to move on to the November general election.

In unofficial but complete returns, the 18th District House member garnered 35 percent of votes cast.

Steve Hall, who Daniel beat in 2014 to claim the seat, got about 25.5 percent of votes cast, James Corcoran got 25.3 percent and Bryan Dodson got 7.5 percent, returns show.

Martin Daniel, Bryan Dodson, Steve Hall, and James Corcoran

Daniel will face Democrat Brandi Price in the general election.

"I’m really gratified that the voters have approved what we have done over the past two years and weren’t distracted by all the things that didn’t matter,” Daniel told 10News.

"That all had little to do with my representation of the 18th District. The voters saw through all the obstruction, the fog and the distractions. I’m really happy about this.”

Daniel spoke from home. He did not join Republicans on Thursday night at party celebrations at the Crowne Plaza.

Daniel said he will spend the next few months preparing for the general election.

Rest of story right HERE.