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NASHVILLE - Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, a Democrat who earlier this year weighed running for U.S. Senate himself, today put his support behind former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in the 2018 Democratic Senate primary.



"A strong record raising funding and standards for education, a tremendous environmental steward, a Mayor who brought prosperity to Nashville, a brilliant Governor on fiscal issues -- I support @PhilBredesen for #USSenate," Berke wrote in a tweet this morning.



Bredesen, who served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011, formally announced earlier today in a 2-minute video that he is seeking the seat being vacated by incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Corker announced Sept. 26 he won't seek a third term.

A strong record raising funding and standards for education, a tremendous environmental steward, a Mayor who brought prosperity to Nashville, a brilliant Governor on fiscal issues — I support @PhilBredesen for #USSenate — Andy Berke (@AndyBerke) December 7, 2017

Nashville attorney James Mackler, who formally announced months ago his candidacy, is showing no signs of dropping his bid for Bredesen.Berke served in the state Senate during the last few years of Bredesen's second term, working with Bredesen on a variety of issues including K-12 and higher education.

Announced Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood and former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher of West Tennessee.