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[[File:John Jennings, Jr. bioguide picture.jpg|thumb|left|160px]]Following the death of incumbent popular congressman [[J. Will Taylor|James Willis "J. Will" Taylor, Jr.]] in 1939, Jennings was among several Republican contenders for the seat, which included Taylor's older daughter Elizabeth.<ref>Hill, Ray (September 3, 2018). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/mystery-j-will-taylors-death-ii/ The Mystery After J. Will Taylor’s Death, II]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> However, Elizabeth Taylor ultimately decided against running for her late father's seat, citing her mother's ill health.Jennings, who previously unsuccessfully sought to primary Taylor, subsequently received the GOP nomination and faced [[Democrat]] Hammond Fowler, who attacked the authenticity of his support for the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] ([[TVA]]),<ref>Hill, Ray (September 9, 2018). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/fight-succeed-j-will-taylor/ The Fight To Succeed J. Will Taylor]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> an extremely popular [[New Deal]] agency in the state. Despite such, Jennings still defeated Fowler by a landslide.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=310771 TN - District 02 - Special Election Race - Dec 30, 1939]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> He would be re-elected five times in 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, and 1948.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=129423 Candidate - John Jennings]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> Jennings voted for the 1940 Gavagan-Fish<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 1, 2018). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/07/01/on-ideology-and-anti-lynching-legislation/ On Ideology and Anti-Lynching Legislation]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> [[anti-lynching bill]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> in addition to an anti-[[poll tax]] measure two years later.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/77-1942/h150 TO PASS H.R. 1024 WHICH DECLARES ILLEGAL THE REQUIREMENT OF A POLL TAX AS A PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, OR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> In the [[1950 Midterm Elections]], Jennings faced a primary challenge from [[Howard Baker, Sr.]] (the father of later Tennessee U.S. senator [[Howard Baker, Jr.]]), and lost renomination in a landslide.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=417671 TN District 2 - R Primary Race - Aug 03, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> He missed five percent of all [[roll call vote]]s during his congressional tenure.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_jennings/405998 Rep. John Jennings Jr.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>

Jennings voted for the 1940 Gavagan-Fish<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 1, 2018). ==See also==*[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/07/01/on-ideology-and-anti-lynching-legislation/ On Ideology and Anti-Lynching Legislation]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> [[anti-lynching billBrazilla Carroll Reece]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIMERepublican U.]S. representative from Tennessee''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>s 1st congressional district