Scott DesJarlais
Encyclopedia
Scott Eugene DesJarlais (born February 21, 1964) (last name pronounced Day-Jar-Lay) is the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
.
. He has undergraduate degrees in Chemistry
and Psychology
from the University of South Dakota
and earned his Doctor of Medicine
from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine
. He was originally from Sturgis, South Dakota
, and moved to East Tennessee
in 1993. Today, DesJarlais practices medicine at Grand View Medical Center in Jasper, Tennessee
.
, as well as Independents Paul H. Curtis, James Gray, Richard S. Johnson, and Gerald York.
In April 2009, the Southern Political Report noted that DesJarlais has "neither held nor sought public office before, which means that until now he has had no experience campaigning and is not widely known in the district."
A Republican-sponsored poll of 4th Congressional District voters showed Davis led most likely challengers (DesJarlais or another candidate Jack Bailey) by eleven points, 44 to 33 percent. CQ Politics rated this race as Leans Democratic. Real Clear Politics rates the race as "Leans Democratic". Larry Sabato
rates the race "Lean Democratic". Charlie Cook
rates the race "Leans Democratic". Stuart Rothenberg
rates the race "Likely Democratic". Nate Silver
of the New York Times owned blog FiveThirtyEight.com
had predicted that there is a 58% chance that DesJarlais would defeat Davis.
In the November 2 election, DesJarlais routed Davis, 57% to 38%--the second-largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle. DesJarlais is also the first challenger to oust an incumbent since the 4th District was created in 1982. The 4th stretches across five television markets, and campaign budgets often rival those of statewide races.
, a suburb of Chattanooga. They are active members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, Tennessee.
DesJarlais divorced his first wife, Susan, in 2001. They had one child. During their divorce proceedings, Susan DesJarlais alleged that her ex-husband engaged in "violent and threatening behavior"
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life, education, and medical career
Scott DesJarlais is the son of Joe DesJarlais, a barber, and Sylvia, a registered nurse for over 44 years at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital in South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. He has undergraduate degrees in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
and earned his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
. He was originally from Sturgis, South Dakota
Sturgis, South Dakota
Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,627 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Meade County. Sturgis is famous for being the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world, which is held annually on the first full week...
, and moved to East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
in 1993. Today, DesJarlais practices medicine at Grand View Medical Center in Jasper, Tennessee
Jasper, Tennessee
Jasper is a town in Marion County, Tennessee. The population was 3,214 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County.Jasper is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
2010 election
In 2009, DesJarlais filed papers to challenge Democratic incumbent Lincoln DavisLincoln Davis
Lincoln Edward Davis is the former U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, as well as Independents Paul H. Curtis, James Gray, Richard S. Johnson, and Gerald York.
In April 2009, the Southern Political Report noted that DesJarlais has "neither held nor sought public office before, which means that until now he has had no experience campaigning and is not widely known in the district."
A Republican-sponsored poll of 4th Congressional District voters showed Davis led most likely challengers (DesJarlais or another candidate Jack Bailey) by eleven points, 44 to 33 percent. CQ Politics rated this race as Leans Democratic. Real Clear Politics rates the race as "Leans Democratic". Larry Sabato
Larry Sabato
Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and...
rates the race "Lean Democratic". Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook , originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, is an American political analyst who specializes in election forecasts and political trends. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He delivers election forecasts and rankings in his own publication, The Cook Political Report,...
rates the race "Leans Democratic". Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...
rates the race "Likely Democratic". Nate Silver
Nate Silver
Nathaniel Read "Nate" Silver is an American statistician, psephologist, and writer. Silver first gained public recognition for developing PECOTA, a system for forecasting the performance and career development of Major League Baseball players, which he sold to and then managed for Baseball...
of the New York Times owned blog FiveThirtyEight.com
FiveThirtyEight.com
FiveThirtyEight is a polling aggregation website with a blog created by Nate Silver. Sometimes colloquially referred to as 538 dot com or just 538, the website takes its name from the number of electors in the United States electoral college...
had predicted that there is a 58% chance that DesJarlais would defeat Davis.
In the November 2 election, DesJarlais routed Davis, 57% to 38%--the second-largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle. DesJarlais is also the first challenger to oust an incumbent since the 4th District was created in 1982. The 4th stretches across five television markets, and campaign budgets often rival those of statewide races.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryThe House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. It oversees all issues relating to livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products including federal inspection, marketing, and promotion of these commodities...
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsThe House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives
- Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending
Personal life
DesJarlais and his second wife, Amy, have three children: Tyler, Ryan, and Maggie. They live in JasperJasper, Tennessee
Jasper is a town in Marion County, Tennessee. The population was 3,214 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County.Jasper is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, a suburb of Chattanooga. They are active members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, Tennessee.
DesJarlais divorced his first wife, Susan, in 2001. They had one child. During their divorce proceedings, Susan DesJarlais alleged that her ex-husband engaged in "violent and threatening behavior"
External links
- Congressman Scott DesJarlais official U.S. House site
- Scott DesJarlais for Congress official campaigns site
- Biography at Freedom Project