Shane Reeves talks about winning the Republican primary for Tennessee Senate District 14. Scott Broden/DNJ
Shane Reeves celebrated his Republican Senate District 14 primary victory Thursday with a packed crowd at The Parthenon Grille in Murfreesboro.
"We had a massive team," Reeves told his supporters after capturing 64.87 percent of the vote against former state Rep. Joe Carr, who won 35.13 percent of the GOP vote. "We couldn't have done it without you."
Breakdown: State Senate primary results: Joe Carr and Shane Reeves
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Reeves will face Democrat Gayle Jordan in the March 13 general election to succeed recently retired Republican state Sen. Jim Tracy.
Jordan was unopposed in her primary and had 574 votes. Reeves had 4,720 votes while Carr had 2,556.
When Reeves arrived at his celebration, the loud choice of music was Queen's "We are the Champions."
Reeves calls campaign a 'great adventure'
Reeves campaign treasure Teb Batey, the Rutherford County trustee, led the crowd in prayer for the candidate.
"Father bless him and continue to praise him as he serves this community," Batey prayed.
Reeves talked about a campaign that involved meeting teachers, business people, farmers and many others at coffee houses, football stadiums, courthouses and other locations.
"It's been a great adventure," Reeves told the cheering crowd. "We have work to do. Let's party."
Reeves, 50, and his wife, Amanda, have three children. Reeves worked as a pharmacist before he and Rick Sain established Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services in 1995. They bought the business from the candidate's father, former Murfreesboro Mayor Richard Reeves, and sold the company in 2015.
Reed said he hopes to use his experience as an innovative, problem-solving businessman in the Tennessee Senate, including finding solutions to the opioid crisis.
More: Reeves outspends Carr in Tennessee Senate race to replace Jim Tracy
Former Murfreesboro Mayor Richard Reeves praises Carr
Joe Carr, a candidate for the 14th District State Senate gives a list of important issues facing his district. HELEN COMER/DNJ
Carr conceded through a Facebook post.
"Congratulations to Shane Reeves and his campaign on their victory tonight in the Senate District #14 Special Election," Carr said.
Among those celebrating Thursday was the GOP nominee's father.
"I want to ask the people of the five counties in the district to step up and support Shane in the general election," the retired mayor said. "I want to compliment Joe Carr. He's a great American and a great conservative."
State Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, also attended the celebration.
"I really like Shane, and I really like his background as a businessman," said Marsh, a founder of Big G Express trucking company. "He's just a good guy."
Others of note celebrating with the GOP nominee were former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh, County Commissioner Joyce Ealy, former Murfreesboro City Attorney Tom Reed, and Rutherford County Industrial Development Board members Nate Schott and Tracy Binkley.
Reach Scott Broden at sbroden@dnj.com or on Twitter @ScottBroden.
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