John Jay Hooker, a Nashville lawyer and two-time Democratic nominee for governor, plans to challenge Gov. Phil Bredesen in the party primary next year.

His fellow Democrat has been "awful" in his handling of TennCare and ethics, Hooker said, citing instances when Bredesen's staff shredded sexual harassment files and handed out honorary trooper badges. And he faults the governor for accepting campaign funds from out-of-state donors and political action committees, a common fundraising practice.