GOP wins Memphis arena, Evansville arena election, Memphis arena elections

GOP won Memphis arena for the first time since its 2011 takeover, defeating Democratic challenger Mike Evansville.

The results, which come after the GOP lost a race for state House in 2014 and a House seat in 2016, were stunning to Democrats, who had hoped for a more progressive vote in the GOP-dominated legislature.

Evansville, a former NBA star who was an ardent conservative, was a longtime opponent of the GOP, but he ran on a progressive platform.

The victory by GOP Rep. Mike Evans, who is running for state Senate, means Republicans now control both houses of the Memphis City Council and the state House, the chamber where the city council is made up of Republicans and Democrats.

The GOP-controlled chamber has the power to set zoning, zoning rules and tax and fees.

Evancuos victory came after a tumultuous week of political drama, with several candidates in the Republican-controlled legislature having been indicted on charges including election fraud and corruption.

The allegations came after the release of emails from a prominent political donor, who was identified as Anthony D. Butler.

Democrats had hoped that the results of the election would prove a turning point in the state of Tennessee, which has seen several gubernatorial and congressional elections in recent years.

Evangelical voters and Democratic activists had made it clear they would not vote for any candidate from the two parties.

They had been protesting in front of the Capitol building in the weeks leading up to the election, chanting “Republicans are corrupt!”

The election marked the first midterm election in Tennessee since 2006, when a Democratic mayor, state Sen. Leland Yancey, lost to Republican Gov.

Bill Haslam.

The state also has never elected a Democratic governor.

The Democratic mayoralty election is a rematch of a 2010 race in which incumbent Democrat Jim Gray defeated Republican Gov, Tom Ridge.

The Democratic candidate, Gov.

Steve Stivers, won the election in a landslide.

Evacuation orders issued in Tennessee are typically lifted on Election Day.

The Nashville arena, located in the center of downtown Memphis, was the scene of protests that led to the police shooting death of a homeless man on Nov. 14, 2017.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.