Air Force veteran, political neophyte recently returned to East Tennessee

An Air Force veteran who recently returned to East Tennessee has filed to run as a Democrat in Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District.

Chris Rowe filed campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission late last week. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Phil Roe, who has easily won re-election since he first took the seat in 2008.

But Rowe and Roe have more in common than military service and most of a last name: Rowe said that Roe, an OB/GYN, delivered him.

According to Rowe, he served in the Air Force from 2008 to 2014. Air Force public affairs officials could not be reached for confirmation. Then, Rowe says, he earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Lewis University in Illinois and is now enrolled in a graduate program.

He moved back to East Tennessee late last year in part to help take care of his ailing father, but the move was also part political calculation.

“If I really want to make a difference then I might as well place myself somewhere that I can,” he said.

He told the Post that he is a “strong supporter” of the 2nd Amendment who does not “think that we should be banning guns at all.” Instead, his primary policy focus is health care.

He said he visited his father last year and found him in poor health. His subsequent troubles navigating the health care and health insurance systems led to his decision to move home and run for Congress.

“Tennessee being Tennessee, chances aren't great for anybody running under the Democrat banner, and I am prepared for that,” he said. “But I also plan to run a campaign that I can be proud of, one that I can say at the end of the day that I stood up for my values and win or lose not feel ashamed for anything I did on the campaign trail.”

