Political pundits who were calling the 6^th District Congressional rematch between Diane Black and Lou Ann Zelenik a toss-up were surprised last night as Black outpaced her challenger by a two-to-one margin.

With 74 percent of the precincts reporting, Black had received 30,651 votes (68 percent) to 14,215 votes (32 percent) for Zelenik, who conceded the election around 8:45 p.m.

“I’m thankful that the voters have once again given me a vote of confidence,” Black said after hearing that Zelenik had conceded. “I look forward to and am honored to represent the people of the 6^th Congressional district.”

To the question of what tipped the scale in her favor, Black said, “I do believe that people were conscious about looking at my record. There was a whole lot of false information put out there and I think the voters looked at my real record and found the real Diane Black.”

As to her top priorities when she returns to Washington, she said, “I’m going to take our Tennessee values back with me. The big issue for us is getting our spending under control, tax reform

The race was full of negative advertising on both sides leading up to the election. Zelenik was a Rutherford County resident in the race two years ago and found herself redistricted out of the 6^th District. She moved to Mt. Juliet to run against Black a second time.

Zelenik was gracious in defeat. “Our country is in serious trouble. We need to tell our officials, whoever you elect, that we are holding you accountable,” Zelenik said in her concession speech just before 9 p.m. “I congratulate my opponent and hopes she really moves mountains to stop the spending and the funding of Obamacare and the many important issue that face Tennesseans.”

Zelenik barely lost a photo-finish Republican primary to Black in August 2010, coming up 283 votes shy of first place with the third-place finisher a scant 283 votes behind her in a seven-contestant race, according to Secretary of State election records.;

With no candidates running in the Democratic Primary for the 6^th seat, Black is assured of winning in November.

For more details, visit www.hendersonvillestandard.com.

By Randy Cline