Jake Ford

Newton Jacob Ford, usually known as Jake Ford (born October 1, 1972) was an Independent candidate in the 2006 race for the US House of Representatives for Tennessee's 9th congressional district against Republican candidate Mark White and Democratic candidate Steve Cohen. He is the younger brother of the 9th's former congressman, Harold Ford, Jr., who gave up his seat to run for the United States Senate.

Jake Ford did not run in the Democratic primary - widely considered to be the real race in the heavily Democratic Memphis-based 9th--because he felt the primary field was too crowded to have a real discussion on the issues. However, he announced shortly after declaring his candidacy that he would serve as a Democrat if he is elected. Ford was considered a wild card in the race given his family's long history in Memphis politics. In fact, his grandfather and namesake, N. J. Ford, was the founder of the Ford political dynasty.

On October 12, 2006, Ford held a press conference in Memphis at which he confirmed rumors that he had been arrested in his late teens and early twenties while living in Washington, D.C. The arrests included DUI, marijuana possession, assault on his father, and assault on a former girlfriend.[http://memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A20525]

Despite rumors of collusion between the two brothers' campaigns, Harold Ford, Jr. did not endorse either fellow Democrat Cohen or his brother in the Ninth District race.[http://memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A20525] However, his father, Harold, Sr., who had represented the 9th from 1975 to 1997, campaigned heavily for his younger son. Jake Ford was also endorsed by Memphis' Black Ministerial Association. It appeared that the real race for the open seat was between Cohen and Ford.

In the November 2006 election, Ford placed second with 22 percent of the vote, well behind Cohen (60 percent) but ahead of White (18 percent).

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu